Nautical Enquiry.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1922, Page 1

Nautical Enquiry.

IBY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

AUCKLAND, July 13,

Thomas Braithwnite, a master mariner, said as mate he had taken the ship past Flat Rock light without the Captain being on the bridge. He would have set n 'course for the lght and altered it when a mile or so away.

William Ross, a Master Mariner, said if a master has confidence in his mate, ho was justified in leaving the mate in charge. C. T. Grnntlcy, Chief Officer, recalled, said when the ship struck, she was within ”00 feet of the light, hut when he gave the order to turn thinking lie was about a mile off, the ship be now knew must have been about KXXlft of the light. He was honestly deceived by the light in approaching. The Court adjourned at the Chief Officer’s request to view the ship and become acquainted with the exact position of the bridge, and where the persons concerned in the inquiry were at the time of the mishap.

AUCKLAND. July I”. Cyril Talbot Grantley, chief ofiicor. continued:—He bad his mind made up to turn when about a mile from the light, certainly not under a mile. He saw the lights of a. vessel he took to ho a trawler when the course was altered to light ahead. He saw two white lights, and he thought sometimes a red light, about two points to bis starboard bow. Ho imt bis glasses on those lights and concluded it was a steam trawler going about south-east. He was correct in his assumption that it was a trawler. AAbile lie was watching the trawler he remained to the westward of Flat Rock. He thought the trawler was coining between the Bonn and her course around Flat Rock. Mindful of porting his the efiillyoWrvipoiwaseatrgnlnm......? helm when he arrived at the turning point, he was carefully observing the movements of this vessel. Ihe Mat Bock light at, this time was about on a level with liis eve as be stood on the bridge, about 85ft above the waterlevel. Standing bn the bridge the li.rht seemed vorv inttcli further than the trawler’s light, which he appeared to he approaching more quickly than the Elat Rock light. The trnwler’s lights appeared to Ih i distinctly between him and the course he intended to make around Kook. He would not take the risk of going between the trawler and Flat Buck. Having made up his mind to go behind the trawler, he did not change his course to starboard. He was at a much higher angle above the trawler’s lights tlni.li the Flat Rock light, and be thought be w .is approaching the trawler verv nupidlv. . He bad the impression he was much further off the Flat Rock than off the trawler. lie did not alter bis course to starboard to pass behind the trawler because he thought he was at a safe distance from her. The trawler’s light seemed to keep closing in until the Ilona struck Flat Bock. Then lie realised that the trawler was on the other side of the rock. He would solemnly swear that when h< thought he was about a mile off Flat Bock and got instructions to pass inside, lie gave the order “Hard apart-.” His reason was to get nil ot the trawler by coming around promptly and rounding the light. He thought it was time to act promptly. There would have been no difficulty in altering the course a mile further back. Within a. minute or two after asking the captain whoth**- would pass illside, the Kona struck the rock. “I was utterly deceived by tile light.” said witness, referring to the light of the trawler, wiiicli. he said. In* hail judged to he mm h nearer than was the case. He honestly thought the trawler was between him and the Mat Bock light. Witness said any blight, white light was deceiving, and every mail at sea would back him up. Tt was an exeeediiiuly difficult thing to gauge one’s distance from a fight, especially a bright white light. He tried to estimate his distance from the light and made an error of judgment. He still maintained that he thought he was a mile ofi the light at the time he made the turn. He had taken the ship round the light many times, and had use 1 his judgment whether ho was a mile or a mile and a half away when lie turned, but ibis time be misjudged bis distance. When about to pass tbe light, there should he a margin of safety and in this case lie was in error. .Afr Meredith: Butting it broadly you, as you have already said, made an error of judgment in estimating your distance from the light?—Acs, that is so. You do not suggest that any blame for the unfortunate accident can he attached to Captain Wallis?—Absolute Iv none. Mr Oillten : I low close were you to the light when you struck the rock?— About 200 feet. Even then it seemed much further away. Mow could you make a mistake between 700 feet and a mile?—lt sounds almost impossible, but it happened, anil the only explanation I can give is that the bright white light deceived

Further questioned by Ml* Cntten, witness said the look-out called out just prior to altering tbe course. ’I In* report did not worry him in the least and he considered it superfluous at the Li mi*. The look-out had reported the trawler about 15 minutes before strik-

ing. Mr Cut ten: And that trawler took up a good deal ol your interest.— A certain amount.

Were you looking at it with your glasses ? Yes. What was the last time?—lust prior to calling to the Captain. You have already told Us you got the report from the look-out inst before you R|M>kc to the captain?—Acs. Anil were you looking at the trawler at the time you got tho report from the look-out?—Very probably I was.

You wore worrying more about tho trawler than the light —I was more concerned about the trawler. At the same time you had got a report from the look-out and you were interested in the trawler. Why did you want to obtain advice from tho captain? T cannot say, unless it was that T was being more than ordinarily careful. It does not look like being more than ordinarily careful as far as results aro concerned; that is the tragedy of it. . Witness said it was an incomprehensible I'aet, and he had made a grievous error of judgment. He was on the bridge, attentive to his duties, and for such" an error of judgment to happen seemed almost impossible. Mr Meredith contended that the captain could not ho held responsible for the mishap, as he had with him a chief officer he had known for ten years man who had beon familiar with the

locality for 13 years, and had hoyi in the habit of taking vessels through there night and day. lie held the same certificates as the captain, with pilotage exemption for this port, and probably was marked out for the next promotion to the command of a ship. Evidence to tiny effect that in the conditions then prevailing it was unnecessary for tho captain to take charge of the vessel on passing I lat jßock, dr set the compass bearing, was given bv W .F. Norbury, master of the Manaia, E. Holding (Clansman), E. W. Haul tan, (Ngapuhi), and Captain C. E. Hood (marine surveyor). The enquiry was adjourned.