INQUIRY OPENS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 8

INQUIRY OPENS

STRANDED STEAMER PORT BOWEN MISHAP LIGHTS CAUSE CONFUSION CONFIDENCE IN BEARINGS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The magisterial inquiry into the stranding of the Port Bowen at Castlecliff on July 19 opened before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. The assessors are Captain Worrall. of Wellington, and Captain Charman, of Christchurch.

Mr J. Prendeville appears for the Marine Department and Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie for the master (Captain F. W. Bailey). Captain Maclndoe is also watching the interests of the master and officers no behalf of the Navigators and Engineers Officers’ Union of England. Mr R. C. Christie is representing the owners of the vessel.

Captain Bailey said he could not say what the insurances were. He had been around the New Zealand coast previously. On the trip on which the stranding occurred the vessel left Picton on July 18. Her draft was 24ft. 6in. forward and 28ft. 6in. aft. He set a course to bring him west of the Wanganui breakwater. There was a slight southerly and a slight swell. It was dark and cloudy overhead. No Note of Tides Mr Prendeville: Did you take note of the tide? Witness: I did not. According to a note in the New Zealand Nautical Almanac, the tides around Cook are very indifferent. Continuing, witness said that about 9.45 p.m. he was on the bridge. The Port Bowen was then approaching Wanganui. At 10.50 he picked up the Castlecliff Light at an estimated distance of 19 miles. He checked that up with the log distance run from the last permanent fix or* the South Island. That put the vessel five and a-half miles westward of her original course, and as he had a double check he was quite confident his position was correct. He then laid a course If# degrees to starboard, and maintained practically the same distance off the Wanganui mole lights. At 11.45 he proceeded to a position which gave him five and a-half miles to go to the Wanganui lights. Orange Light Sighted About this time a light was sighted which to him was distinctly orange in colour. He consulted the fourth officer, and as they could find no orange light of any consequence they discarded it and did not take a bearing. This light afterwards proved to be one of the mole lights. At 11.50 he put the engines halfspeed, and about this time picked up a red light near the Castlecliff light. This was very dim and visible only through powerful glasses. It did not look like a navigation light, and might have been anything.

The chief officer came on the bridge about 11.55 merely for orders, and not to assist in navigation; but when witness remarked that he could not yet see any of the lights the chief officer picked up the binoculars, and after scanning the shore for a few minutes sighted a green light. - xisszi Distance Overrun They did not take a bearing, but it would be to the north on the starboard bow. About this time witness instructed the fourth officer to get some bearings off the Castlecliff light and another light. The fourth officer went into tfie chart room and witness followed, and at once saw he had overrun the distance. He shouted to the chief officer to stop the engines and hurried to the bridge to put the helm hard to starboard. The vessel was swinging on the starboard helm, and was slow and sluggish; so at 12.9 he went ahead

greauy reaucea. on the port engine. At 12.11, while going lull speed on the port engine, the vessel touched a bank in the way of No. 4 hatch on the port side. By this time he could see two mole lights, and they were a point on the port bow. He continued with the engine going ahead, and tried both engines ahead at 12.13, to see if she would work off the bank. It made no difference. At 12.33 the vessel was not moving, so he stopped the engines altogether. Anchor Let Go At 12.35 the starboard anchor was let go to try to hold the ship’s head to sea, but it would not hold. Soundings were taken of the holds and tanks, and as the ship was not making any water and there was no danger to life he did not abandon ship. He sent messages to the local agents at Wanganui and to the office in Wellington. (Proceeding)