Ferry Disaster

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 204, 17 November 1927, Page 11

Ferry Disaster

TAHITI’S SPEED IN QUESTION

Harbour Regulations

THE Sydney Harbour Trust regulations provide for over■l seas vessels a speed limit of six knots east of i ort Denison, and eight miles an hour on the west side. At the inquiry into the Tahiti-Greycliffe collision, counsel for the Commonwealth Director of Navigation said he would call evidence estimating the Tahiti’s speed at eight or nine knots and more.

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright.

SYDNEY, Wednesday.

The Marine Court set up jointly by the Federal and State Government authorities resumed its inquiry to-day into the disaster to the ferry steamer Greycliffe.

i slightly converging. He saw a change of course on the part of the Greycliffe, which altered her course to port. She seemed to swing about a point and ahalf to port. There was no change of course by the Tahiti. He heard no whistle, except his own four blasts when he steadied down on his course. He was doing ' about 13i knots, and appeared to gain on the Tahiti very slowly. The Tahiti kept on her course and the Burrabra was almost astern of the Tahiti, about three cables' length distant. Then the Greycliffe disappeared from his view. She was shut out by the Tahiti. Before the Greycliffe sank he saw her again. She was across the Tahiti’s bows. He would not say the master of the Greycliffe steered there, as he might have been forced there. The witness could not estimate the distance between the Greycliffe and the Tahiti before the former went to port, hut they did not appear to be far apart. ALL IN HALF-MINUTE The Greycliffe rolled on to her starboard side. It all happened in 30 seconds. In reply to a question the witness said there would have been no danger of a collision if the Greycliffe had not altered her course. John Barry, an able seaman and a gunner on the destroyer Success, said he saw the Tahiti coming along 200 yards behind the Greycliffe. The Tahiti was about 50 yards out from the Pontoon at Garden Island and appeared to be travelling at a speed of between 12 and 14 knots. In reply to a question, witness said part of his naval training was to estimate the speed of vessels. He said he saw the ferry alter her course, but the Tahiti did not alter hers.—-A. and N.Z.

Mr. W. A. Holman, counsel for the Commonwealth Director of Navigation, said no theory as to the cause of the accident would be submitted by the director at present. In the evidence so far collected, by the director there was a certain amount of conflict between independent witnesses who had seen the accident or the vessels moving just before the accident from different points of view. Counsel then said the course of the Watson’s Bay ferries from Garden Island and that of overseas vessels necessarily crossed, and that an overtaking boat had to keep out of the way of a vessel that was being overtaken. The latter must maintain her course and speed unchanged. LIMITS OF SPEED Limits of speed were provided for under the Harbour Trust regulations for overseas vessels on the western side of Fort Denison. The speed was six knots, and on the eastern side eight knots. Ferry boats were exempt from these limits. There were no regulations as to the routes the ferries should take. Mr. Holman said evidence that the Tahiti was travelling at about eight or nine knots would be given, and that other witnesses would place her speed higher. The questions to be submitted to the Court (inter alia) would be as follows: (1) Were the Greycliffe and the Tahiti navigated in a proper and seamanlike manner? (2) What were their speeds at the moment of the collision, and was the speed of either vessel excessive? (3) Did the vessels comply with the regulations for the prevention of collisions, and was the collision caused or contributed to, by any wrongful act or default of any person or persons, and, if so, of whom? COLLISION DESCRIBED Captain Clarke, of the ferry steamer Burrabra, said when from his boat he sighted the Greycliffe and the Tahiti they were on almost parallel courses,