COLLISION ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1926, Page 1

COLLISION ENQUIRY

AI ASTER ASLEEP AT WHEEL. SUSPENDED FOR THREE ArONTHS. nv telegraph—press assn., copyrigiit. AUCKLAND, Feb. 10. The Auckland Nautical Court is hearing evidence relative to the collision in Auckland Harbour on December 12th., between the ferry steamer Kestrel and the hulk Wanganui. The Kestrel, which carried passengers, was considerably damaged. The master of the Kestrel. James Edward Douglas, admitted that the mishap was caused through him falling asleep owing to loss of sleep, caused by the illness of Ids family. He had a bottle of beer on the morning of the collision, which occurred at 9.30 p.ni. He had resigned of his own accord. The fact that the master of the ferry steamer was asleep at the wheel was revealed to-day at the inquiry into the circumstances of the collision between the ferry steamer Kestrel and the bulk, Wanganui, in Auckland Harbour on December 121 b. Air Cutten. S.AL, presided and associated with him as assessors were Captains R. E. Smith and T. Brnidwood. Air Meredith, for the Marine Department. said the facts were exceedingly simple. The Kestrel was proceeding from Auckland to Northeote at 9.30 p.ni.. on the night of the izth. The course was set. but tbe master found the vessel getting off her course, amongst the hulks between Northeote and Stanley Point. After managing to clear two of them, he was unable to avoid a collision and struck the Wanganui's port how with tbe starboard of the Kestrel. No damage was done to the hulk, lmt there was considerable damage to the ferry boat. A serious feature of the whole business was that, the Kestrel had a large number of passengers aboard, and there wore all the eloineiils of a possible tragedy. Tbe. master said that, be bad gone to sleep iiinl ii was not until be was on top of the first bulk that be realised what bad happened. Tbe question of the master being asleep at his post raised a serious question, when, as in this ease, be was in charge of a large number of passengers, and if raised a further question whether or uo.t someone,

pofsihlv ihe mate, could not have been in ihe vicinity in order to have prevented the possibility of the mastin' going to sleep unnoticed. The master's excuse was that he was overfatigued by illness in his family, and In 1 not been able to get Ids proper amount of sleep. As an accident to a ferry boat was a matter of serious moment to the general public, inquiries had been made by the Department to see if any further information rnuld he obtained ns to the happening, but no further evidence which could l>c of any u.se to (lie Court was ascertained. Even assuming that his rest, had been broken, it should have been open to the master to liaise informed fho mate of the position and to have got him to take charge or io have reported the position to his employers. •Tames Edward Douglas, master of the Kestrel, gave evidence on the lines outlined by Meredith. From the timo he last saw the hulks till he woke up, he estimated that from two to two and a-half minutes had elapsed. Ho Recounted for having gone to sleep by being run down, through loss of sleep,

occasioned by illness in his family. Ho had a bottle of beer on the morning of the collision, hut that was all he had. Tt was not the custom for the mate to keen a look-out, unless the master told him to do so. Ho did not ask his employers to relieve him because it would have meant a doublo shift for someone else. He had since resigned his position on his own account. He supposed he would have been relieved if lie had asked. This was his first accident.

A medical certificate was then put n by counsel for the master. Thomas Finley T.eatliart, mate of

the Kestrel, said that so far as he knew, there was no obligation on the mate to keep a look-out. nor had mates any instructions to do so. except in fog or thick weather. Tf anything happened to the master there was no one to sec if anything went wrong. After casting off he went to make a- cup of ten in the mate’s cabin, and lie was there when the collision occurred. The Court held the cause of the collision was that the master of the Kesrel. while in charge, and steering, fell asleep, owing to his tired condition, arising from home circumstances, thus allowing ill" vessel to go off her course and collide with the hulk. The Court considered the master at fault: in not recognising that he was unlit for duty, and in not reporting that fact to the owners. His certificate would he suspended for three months, and a- fine of five pounds imposed to help cover the costs of the inquiry. The Court thought, that, during tlio night trips of the ferry steamers, the mate should he required to keep a look-out.