THE LOSS OF THE SATARA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 376, 29 April 1910, Page 5

THE LOSS OF THE SATARA

MARINE 'ENQUIRY. CAPTAIN BLAMED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received April 28, 9.40 p.m. Sydney, April 28. At the marine enquiry 'into the loss of the Satara, Captain Hugill stated • hat after the vessel struck he tool? a iiearing, which put the vessel about a (]carter of a mile northeast of Edith Break. Binstead. the pilot, stated that lie had taken large vessels through the inner passage many times. His oDject vas to get out of the southern current and thus gain about five miles in ihe run between Newcastle and the Queensland coast. Shortly before she struck, the ship was heading between Peak Rock and Seal Rocks. If she had struck the Edith Break Peak Rock she would have been straight ahead. Instead she was considerably on her port bow. lie was satisfied ,he was clear of the El'th Break. He admitted that his piloi. s license did not authorise him to take charge of vessels outside Queensland waters, but it had ibeen customary or Torres Straits pilots to take charge ot ships (before getting into their ■ \yn waters to ascertain the compass deviation and to discover how the vessels ret. The captain of a small coasting sterner said he knew of a submerged uncharted rock surrounded by deep water eastward of Edith Break.' The Court found that the loss w.us caused bv the wrongful art of Canta:n ITugill by allowing a course to he set which caused her to strike Edith B'Oi, k. and called on him to show cause why his certificate should not be dealt with.