HARBOUR COLLISION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 155, 3 July 1922, Page 7

HARBOUR COLLISION.

TIROA AND PEREGRINE.

MARINE COURT INQUIRY.

An inquiry was commenced this morning by a Court of Marine into the collision which took place off the end of Queen's wharf on the night of May 13, between the Gisborne steamer Tiroa and the ferry steamer Peregrine. Mr. J. E. Wilson. S.M., presided, and had with him as nautical assessors Captain W. Holmes and Captain J. M. Jackson. Mr. Selwyn Mays, with .Mr. H. .). ( . George, for the Marine Department, Mr. V. R. Meredith for the master of the Tiroa, and Mr. Allan Moody for the master of the Peregine, Mr. .). Stanton for the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Freezing Association (owners of the Tiroa), Mr. T. Holmden for the Marine Engineers' Institute, and Mr. W. P. Endean for the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, Ltd.

Mr. Mays stated that no damage had been done to the Peregrine, and very) little to the Tiroa. With increasing ferry traffic there was an ever-present danger of collision, and it might be for the court to say whether there should no-t be some alteration to existing rules so as to define exact!} - how ferry boats should stand in regard to harbouT tralnc. There were at present no special rules for Auckland Harbour regarding the ferry boats to override collision regulations; in other parts of the world there were. In this harbour ferry boats had no privileges, and it was remarkable that there had been so few instances of accidents between these vessels and deep water vessels, which could be regarded as a tribute to the care ordinarily exercised by masters.

David Clerk, master of the Tiroa, said he had been in charge of that vessel, trading on the East Coast for the past fifteen months. The Tiroa cast off from the western side of Queen's wharf at about seven minutes past 0 o'clock on the evening of May 13. Leading Seaman was at the wheel, and witness was on the bridge, whilst the mate was on tho fo'c's'le head. He swung the steamer's head towards Hobson Street wharf, and steamed out about 150 ft from some punts moored at the end of that wharf. He ""ported" slightly and steamed out to about 250 yards northward of the end of Queen's wharf. He was then going at full speed (about six knots) with side-lights burning. It was a very dark night. He had just straightened the Tiroa on her course when he saw the lights of the Peregrine some 600 yards ahead, bearing at right angles.

The Peregrine, said Captain Clerk, appeared to be coming straight for him, as he saw her masthead light and <both sidelights. He waited two or three seconds to sec what the Peregrine was going to do. The Peregrine gave one short blast of her whistle when about 500 yards off, and witness ported his helm and blew one blast in reply, thus swinging his vessel to starboard. The ferry boat came straight along for a moment or two, then her red light disappeared, indicating that she was 6wing- : ing to port. Thirty seconds after the ferry boat blew two blasts. Witness thought then that the Peregrine had either made a mistake in her signal or altered her course the wrong way. When he heard the two blasts, he blew one blast in reply, put his helm hard-a-port and ordered the engines to go astern. He was then only about 100 yards off the ferry boat, but a long way from Queen's wharf —slightly to the westward of Central wharf. He could then see only the green light and headlight of the ferry boat crossing his bow. The Tiroa took some time to go astern when loaded. Witness was quite clear that he gave tbe order for full speed astern directly he sounded the one blast. The Peregrine appeared to be going through the water pretty fast, and had not up till then slackened speed, and she continued on her course. The Tiroa struck the Peregrine abaft the beam on the starboard side. The Tiroa's stem waa damaged on the port side. Mr. Moody: Does the engineer's log book contain a record of your order ""Full speed astern" ?"—Yes. Witnees undertook to produce the engineer's log to prove this. The mate did not report to witness that there was a light ahead when the Peregrine hove in sight. The mate was on the foc's'le head up to the time of the collision, which tc k place at about 6.14 p.m. Mr. Moody: I put it to you that on the night of the collision you sounded no whistles whatever? —I certainly did. If wtnessos swear you did not once sound your whistles they would be lying?— Yes. You say that you could not avoid the collision ?—No. You were going full speed ahead right to the time you were within a hundred yards of the ferry boat?— Yes. After the collision did you not complain to Captain Bishop of defective steering gear? —No. Didn't you say to Captain Bishop, "I suppose I will get the sack?"—Xo; T said, "I suppose we will both get the sack." Wasn't it this way—you said "1 suppose T will get the sack."' and Captain Bishop said. "1 suppose I will, too"?— Xo. . ' Did you ask Captain Bishop to make his report as light as possible, or that the less that was said the better it would be for both of-you?—Xo. After the collision, the Tiroa went back to her berth. She was quick on her helm when loaded ami in good trim, but was steering badly after tbe collision owing to her stem being damasred above and below water. She was making no water. Cross-examined by Mr. "Moody, witness said he obeyed all the collision regulations and was not aware of having broken any. He altered his course twice after coming into view of the ferry boat—first to port, then to starboard. He went to starboard about :!."> seconds after gointr to port. He indicated each chancre of course by sionallino- with his whistle. When'he ordered full srieed astern, he ran<r tlie telegraph himself. You did not blow three blasts with the whistle when you went astern? — Xo. Then you did break a collision regu lation? —Not that I am aware of. Don't you know you should have blown three short blasts?— Yes; three blasts for full speed astern. Then you did commit a breach of the collision regulations? —Yes: you say so. Well, on your own showing you did. And I put it to you that you did not blow the whistle as renuired. when you went to starboard? —I did blow two short blasts. You struck the ferry boat?—Tlie two ships came together. When did you make your report to the shipping authorities?— Shortly after 9 o'clock on Monday morning. "You have been up at Captain Cliff's, learnin" navigation."' said witness, amid laughter after Mr. Moody had corrected him on a point concerning sidelights. "You have more time to learn these things than us chaps."

"It's not my business," said Mr. Moody. "You seem to know all about it, then," replied witness, amid further laughter. Continuing, Captain Clerk said <hi> ferry boat gave one short blast only, and then went slightly to starboard instead of going to port as the whistle indicated she would.