COLLISION IN PANAMA

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1921, Page 2

COLLISION IN PANAMA

STEAMER ATHENIC DAMAGED. CAPTAIN EXONERATED. The steamer Athenic sustained considerable damage by a collision in the Panama Canal while on her last voyage from New Zealand to England. The accident occurred in the middle of November, but for some reason it has so far gone unreported. The following description of the incident is from a letter written by a passenger on board the Athenic:—The Athenic was about half-way through the canal when a large steamer was observed coming up behind. This steamer proved to be an American boat named the Victoria, and as she was a much faster boat than the Athenic, she very soon overhauled her. When the vessels , were close together another steamer, an oil-boat, was noticed also at very close quarters, and was apparently not observed by those in charge of the Victoria until too late to avoid a collision, either with the Athenic or with the oil boat. Had the collision occurred with the latter probably an explosion would have occurred and a terrible disaster might have been the result. The lesser of two evils was, therefore, apparently chosen, with the result that the Victoria crashed into the Athenic. There was great excitement among the passengers. The damage to the Athenic was estimated at about £lO,OOO. The lifeboat, side of the vessel, and port holes were all badly damaged, the cabins being flooded and tjie passengers having to be temporarily shifted to other quarters. The ship was detained at Christobel (Colon), where she was thoroughly examined, and after temporary repairs had been effected she resumed her voyage, reaching Southampton on December 1. The full extent of the damage to the Victoria was not known when the Athenic left Colon. But that it was very considerable will be inferred from the fact that all the cargo had to be taken out of the ship.' An inquiry was held into the matter at Colon, and it is understood that Captain Crossland, of the Athenic, was entirely exonerated from all the blame in the matter. Subsequently a letter of sympathy was handed to him by the passengers of the Athenic.