CAPTAINS OF SHIPS FINED.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20383, 2 November 1931, Page 11

CAPTAINS OF SHIPS FINED.

, «. — ALLOWING OIL TO ESCAPE ESTO HARBOUR. (msa isaOCUTIOV TBLXOBAICI^ WELRNGTON, Ckstpter a. The master "of the oil tanker, Athelqueon,Captain WilliamLanoefieTd, was fined :£2O and costs for allowing oil (from Bis vessel:to escape into the harbour as the \essel berthed at the wharf at Evans Bay. Captain Karl B. - Larsen, master of the oil tanker,,' Minister Wedel, was fined £25 and costs for a similar offence. , , -n_ In entering a • plea of; not gouty* counsel said that, the Minister Wedet was a motor-ship carrying a oanm 0* petrol, special heavy oil f<w4er;lJiesa* engines, and a quantity of lubricating oil for her own use. None of tha bilges had been pumped out. sad fchefs was no escape from any oftbagipp lines. The only oil that could P oßß *™* have escaped was a very email quantity from the water jackets-of the when they were washed om wraa caustic soda. -.1 Mr E. Page, S.M., t that it wa» established beyond doubt j oil was coming away from the Minister ; the Court on the question j of penalty, prosecuting counsel said that the Harbour Board regarded the offemxr aa one of -some magnitude—so ranch so that the pilot staff master marines on arrival at Wellington with a notice pointing cot the dangers of oil escaping into the harbour. Xhe offence could not be looßea upon in a light manner. The maximum fine was £SOO, and the board considered that in this .case a substantial penalty should he inflicted.