FERRY TRAGEDY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 23 November 1927, Page 6

FERRY TRAGEDY

MARINE COURT OF INQUIRY PILOT CROSS-EXAMINED. SPEEDS OF THE STEAMERS. Sydney, Nov. 22. At the Greycliffe inquiry, Captain Carson, cross-examined in regard to the speeds of the two steamefs, reiterated that he believed if the Greycliffe had not altered the course she was steering just before the collision there would have been no collision. There was ample distance for both steamers. If,the Greycliffe had ceased or reversed after the Tahiti blew two blasts he did not think there would have been a collision. Asked if he put down the collision to accidental conditions, witness replied that he would say nothing about that. Both he and the captain of the Tahiti were keeping a sharp look-out on the ferry boat. After giving two whistles he immediately ordered the helm hard a starhoard and the Tahiti very quickly swung to port. The Tahiti had been ordered full steam ahead and was proceeding under those orders until he ordered the engines astern, but not at any time did the speed exceed eight knots. The steamers never got full speed in the harbour. He did everything possible after the Greycliffe changed her course to obtain the maximum deflection. At no time dill the position present any danger at all until the Greycliffe suddenly changed her course. The ferry steamer approached much closer than the Tahiti and the Greycliffe were up to the time of the collision. Captain Carson considered there was sufficient space and time to meet any reasonable development and maintained that the coJlse taken by the Greycliffe was not reasonable.

Mr. Justice Campbell here remarked that the action taken by the Greycliffe was quite incomprehensible. She had no right to be on that course at all.

Cecil Sharpe, chief officer of the Tahiti, gave evidence similar to Captain Carson’s and produced the engine room and deck logs of the Tahiti in support of his evidence. In reply to questions he said he did not know what speed the Tahiti was travelling, but ho quoted the deck log entry just before the collision, which showed half a-head for five minutes. He expected her 'speed would be six knots. He would not deny that after going full speed for five minutes the Tahiti would be doing 13 knots.