MISHAP TO PORT HOBART

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1931, Page 7

MISHAP TO PORT HOBART

INQUIRY OPENED. EVIDENCE OF MASTER AND OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, May 4. An inquiry into the striking by the vessel Port Hobart of a submerged object oil' Cape TrJrikirae on thq morning of April 4, was opened to-day. Mr E. Page, S.M., who- lias with him Capture Worrell and Captain Barron as assessors, is presiding. Mr Prendevillo is appearing for the Marine Department, Mr Kirkcaldie for Captain Cotterell,, Mr Wat on for the ship’s owners and .Mr Parry for the first officer. Captain Cotterell said that on the nnwning of Saturday April 4 there was a light south-westerly wind blowing. The sky was overcast and a light sea was running. The vessel was proceeding from Auckland to Wellington at a speed of eleven knots. He described the course taken by him which lie considered would take him three miles off Cape Tnhikirae. He stood on the course until 5.18 a.m. when lie sighted rocks on the starboard bow from threequarters of a mile to a mile distant. He tlii'ii realised that he hnct set in and immediately gave the ciders: “Starboard” and “Hard to starboard.” The vessel swung over rapidly and while swinging struck some submerged object. Tlic.ro were two bumps. As soon as she touched he stopped both engines and gave orders for all tanks to he sounded. There had been no change in (lie weather after passing Cape Palliser. He saw no rocks where the ship passed over. Coming across Palliser Bay the tide would he making north-west, practically on his course. “Witness had been thirty-five years trading around New Zealand coast and had been master for nineteen and a half years. He had passed the head many times. The tides in Cook Strait could not he depended' upon.

ITS CAL COURSE SET. To his counsel, Mr Kirkcaldie, witness said that the course he set was the usual one to pass Cape Turikirae' The New Zealand Nautical Almanack 1926, recommended a course that would take the ship two miles off Baring Head whereas his course would take the vessel three miles off the head. There was no difficulty as to visibility. There was no object upon which lie could fix to ascertain his position. At 6.2 a.in. fie saw the land where he expected to see it .He did pot anticipate,a.tiything but a wide clearing of Cape Turikirae?. The sliip Had gone into dry dock at Port Chalmers, where it was found that plates had been damaged amidships on the port side. The starboard propeller was: also damaged. If the ship bad run on a reef the whole of the starboard side would have been knocked out. He did not think that the damage was consistent with striking a rock. There was not the slightest doubt that the ship had sef: in, but there was no indication that it had done so until lie saw tin* rocks. The first officer, Gilbert George Webster .tinman, who was on watch at the time of the mishap, gave corrobora'tive evidence. He thought they were a long way off Cape Turikirae. The ship certainly did not strike a charted rock off Turikirae. If the ship had struck rocks lie would expect to see her badly holed aft on the starboard side. Edward Wallcae Dingle, fourth officer, also gave evidence. The Court adjourned until’ to-mor-row evening.