INQUIRY OPENS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20993, 21 December 1939, Page 8

INQUIRY OPENS

LOSS OF WAIKOUAITI AGROUND IN DENSE FOG CAPTAIN DESCRIBES COURSE HOLDS FILLED WITH WATER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday A formal inquiry into the loss of the Union Steam Ship Company’s intercolonial steamer Waikouaiti, which was wrecked off Dog Island, three miles from Bluff, on the night of November 28, was begun in Wellington today. The Waikouaiti, of 3926 tons, was on a voyage from Sydney to Lyttelton when she ran aground in a fog. She was abandoned by the underwriters a few days later. Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., presided over the inquiry, and the nautical assesors were Captains L. C. H. Worrall and J. Mawson. Mr J. P. Prenaeville appeared for the Marine Department, Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie for the master of the ship, and Mr A. E. White for the Union Company. Captain F. A. Macindoe watched proceedings on behalf of the Merchant Service. Before the taking of evidence the chairman said the ship had been proceeding on a course fixed by the Admiralty, and he asked that details of the course be not published, except those immediately relevant to the inquiry. Captain’s Evidence Captain John Bruce, master of the Waikouaiti, said he altered the course during the afternoon of November 28 and remained on it till 8.15 p.m. During that time there were fog banks around the mainland. The sea was smooth, with a light southwest wind of Force Three. Witness said the second officer, who was on watch, checked the ship’s position several times during the afternoon, and at 4 p.m. the Chief officer relieved him. Witness himself was frequently on the bridge. At 8 p.m. the fog was patchy to the north and clear to the south. A bearing was taken by the chief officer at 7.56 p.m. It was the last one marked on the chart. Dog Island was not visible at that time. Course Moved South The ship held the same course until 8.15, at which time, seeing that Dog Island was still obscured, he pulled the ship a point and a-half southward. He considered he would thus clear Dog Island by a mile and a-half to two miles. They had not sighted the light on Dog Island at 8.15 because of the fog. The ship was doing about 9£ knots, and it was not quite dark at 8.15. He maintained his course, witness continued, to pass Dog Island, and at 8.37 he sighted land fine on the port bow. He gave orders to the man at the wheel to put the helm hard a-starboard, at the same time ordering the third officer to ring “stand by.” At 8.38, after the ship came round to the south-east, she struck bottom. In a few seconds the chief officer came on the bridge and witness ordered all the ballast tanks to be sounded. At witness rang “stop” to the engine room, and gave instructions to have soundings taken all round the ship. The least depth found was 16 feet, aft. The ship’s draught was 25ft. sin. forward and 22ft. 6in. aft. Witness sent to Bluff for a tug. Propeller Fouled “As the fog had become very dense we fired several distress signals, detonators and skyrockets,' - continued Captain Bruce. This was not because they were in any immediate danger, but it was to indicate the ship’s whereabouts to the pilot launch,'which duly arrived at 10.30 p.m. With the flood tide the ship began to swing and he decided to try the engines, and he rang “ full speed astern.” At that time there was 42ft of water at the ship’s stern. The chief engineer informed witness that he could not turn to engines, as something had fouled the propeller. Then the witness thought the rock? might be causing trouble, but at daylight he found that the stern frame of the ship had been broken and the propeller blades were catching on the frame and rudder. One of the blades had been broken off, and Nos. 1 and 2 holds were found to be full of water. The tug that had left Dunedin was then sent back, but the pilot launch stood by until 4 a.m., when the mails and ship’s papers were put aboard and sent ashore. The fog was still dense.

At 7.30 a.m. the launch then came back and towed the crew ashore in three lifeboats. The engineers, two greasers and three deck officers, as well as witness, remained aboard. No subsequent attempt was made to get the ship off. as with her two holds lull of water she would not have floated. The remaining men left the ship at 6 p.m. on November 29. At that time the watertight bulkhead between the bunker and the stokehold had commenced to fracture. Water was increasing in the stokehold and it seemed unsafe to keep the men there any longer. Witness said the ship carried 5411 tons of general cargo. He took no soundings before striking, as he was confident of his position. The light on Dog Island was not clear all that night. To Mr Prendeville, witness said he did not reduce speed because of the tides in Foveaux Strait. The Waikouaiti struck west of the lighthouse on Dog Island. To Mr Kirkcaldie, Captain Bruce said he had been a master for 20 years, and had never previously appeared before a court of inquiry. Continuing, he said that between 2.2 and 7.56 p.m. they took ten cross-bearings. Stewart Island was very clear up to 4 p.m. Up to almost 8 p.m. they definitely knew where the vessel was, and at 8 p.m. he estimated he was about five miles from Dog Island. Considered It Safe Continuing, witness said that during the ebb tide there was a strong current in a southerly direction from Bluff Harbour, and he expected to be carried south at the time he was passing. Twilight and mist at 8.15 would militate against his seeing the Dog Island light. He considered it perfectly safe to carry on. There must have been an unexpected set from the south. To the Qajptair> fidTUCC

said he was satisfied the position marked on the chart at 7.56 p.m. was correct. He could explain the striking of the rocks only by some unforeseen influence taking effect after the fix at 7.56 p.m. The ship had been following a steady course all the afternoon. A fog signal on Dog Island would have made all the difference. There was no such signal in that locality. (Proceeding)