SHIP COLLISION INQUIRY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 352, 5 February 1937, Page 5

SHIP COLLISION INQUIRY

S.S. KAKARIKI. CONFLICTING EVIDENCE Captains Disagree On Blowing Of Whistles. Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, Feb. 4. Conflicting evidence about the whistle signals given by the Kakariki on the night of the collision, with the Caradaie on January 29 was submitted by the masters of the respective vessels at a Marine Court inquiry to-day. Captain Hansen, master of the Caradaie, said the Kakariki sounded only one whistle blast, indicating he was turning to starboard, while the master of the Kakariki, Captain White, declared he gave two blasts twice, warning that he was turning to port. Captain Hansen said he had no man on look-out. He saw the Kakariki doging all the time. She was the meeting ship and it was her duty to keep out of the way. Captain White said the Caradaie took no notice of his first whistle blasts. Consequently he sounded two more, and no reply was received. Ho could see a collision was inevitable and ordered the egines hard astern when tho Caradaie was still a ship’s length away.