GISBORNE COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1917, Page 4

GISBORNE COLLISION.

NAUTICAL COURT'S FIXDIXG BOTH MASTERS HELD TO BE BLAMEWORTHY. Auckland, April 12. The decision of the Xautieal Court in regard to the collision between the Union Company's Arahura and a Home liner in Gisborne roadstead on the night of March Ist was delivered to-day. It was found by the court that the Arahura weighed anchor about 11 p.m., and although the master, Captain Drvden, then saw the Ifome liner's green light, and her masthead light, he wrongly assumed that she was not under way, and he decided to pass round' the liner's bow. Shortly after leaving the anchorage Captain Dryden saw the liner was under way and moving in a direction across the Arahura's bow. The vessels were then "crossing" vessels, and it was the duty £f the liner to keep out of the iway of' the Arafiura. When Captain Dryden saw that_ a collision was inevitable if he kept his course and speed, lie should immediately 'have stopped the vessel and reversed engines to give the liner time to get out of the way. Instead Captain Dryden put the helm hard a-port and stopped both pngines. Just before the impact he put the helm hard a-stavboard and the engines full speed ahead. He was not justified in altering the vessel's course to starboard. The liner gob under way about the same time as the Arahura. with engines going slow ahead and the helm hard astarboard. Captain Goddard shortly after sighted the Arahura approaching on tho starboard quarter. He stopped his engines and gave the order "full astern," The liner had gathered some headway and was still going ahead a little when the impact occurred. The order "full astern" should not have been given, but the error did not contribute to the collision. Had there been a lookout on the liner, the Arahura would have been seen some time before Captain Goddard, who did not know of the vessel's close approach, gave tho order ''slow ahead." Had He known of the approach of the Arahura it would have been bis obvious duty to have remained stationary or ordered the engines astern. The liner would not have been justified in attempting to cross the Arahura's bow as she was the "giving way" ship. The court found that the collision was due to the combined neglect of the masters of the vessels, but deeioed not to deal with their certificates. The costs of tlie inquiry were ordered to be paid by Captains Goddard and Dryden on equal shares. The Arahura was docltcd to-day and 'is expected to resume running at the end of next week.