VESSEL SUNK AT WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23882, 26 February 1943, Page 4

VESSEL SUNK AT WELLINGTON

COLLISION WITH WAHINE

INQUIRY INTO MISHAP IN DECEMBER (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Feb, 25, A Court of Marine Inquiry into W ; sinking of a small naval auxiliW vessel, as a result of a collision' will, the steamship Wahine in the WdlijjK ton harbour on the morning bf W cember 19, was opened in Wellington on Wednesday, and was continued day. After nearing the evidence, t» Court adjourned sine die, because doubt about its own jurisdiction a • case involving a naval vessel. The collision occurred near Poffl Halswell when the Wahine was steWj, ing out of the harbour, and the n»w vessel was approaching roughly;;*} right angles from the directteyf. Somes Island. The naval veaipw struck amidships, badly hoWW sank soon afterwards. The crew W all rescued, only one man being di# ly injured. The Wahine - received * material damage and left lat&fjin,)® morning for Lyttelton. S'' Alexander Hutchinson HoWie,®*?: ter of the Wahine, in evidence.Mu he saw the naval vessel approstCT on his port side at right angles,* ® course. He regarded her as the cro» ing vessel, bound by regulation * keep out of his way.- • She Wflifr appear to be making any effon iO ® so, however, and he consider#.;®?" was danger of a collision. -He wenj hard to starboard, sounding one blast to indicate his intention. Wnw he could see the naval vessel going to take no action, and that J® collision appeared inevitable, he P® his engines full astern in an endeavow to get the way off his ship,- ana., lighten the impact. He did not adnM to Regulation 21 because the ou» vessel did not comply with Regulatw 19. If he had kept on his course affi maintained his speed, the colUSiw would, in his opinion, have been nuia worse. . ,

The master of the naval vessel that until the Wahine altered lw course to starboard, there was, Wni opinion, no risk of a collision. He tn: pected the Wahine to maintain o?j course and speed in accordance wi»l Regulation 21, and. had she done* he calculated his vessel would M**! passed four cables ahead of her. VM he heard the Wahinc’s blast, he w] surprised because it was such an ®1 expected movement. He hesitated Kj see what the Wahine was really opiW When he saw she was going to sw*| board he gave the order for full she* and hard aport. He then considers the collision almost inevitable. Evidence was also given bjufflr l of the personnel of both vcss^^J.,