HOLMBURN INQUIRY FINDINGS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28938, 4 July 1959, Page 12

HOLMBURN INQUIRY FINDINGS

Court Deplores Conduct Of Crew At Fire (New Zealand Press Association) ; WELLINGTON) July 3. The Court of Inauiry into the fatal fire in the motor ship Holmburn at Lyttelton on May .7 has, in its findings, deplored the conduct of die vessel’s crew at the time of the outbreak. “The members of the 'crew niade no use of the vessel’s fire-fighting facilities or of their training in fire-fighting. Except possibly in one case, they made no attempt to rescue their master and shipmate and concerned themselves only with their own personal safety,” states the Court’s report, released by the Minister of Marine (Mr Fox) today. The report, however, refers to a meritorious search made by the first mate of the vessel, Keith Lordon Barker, assisted by members of the Lyttelton Fire Brigade. It also notes that the harbour master, Captain Alexander Royal Champion, gave considerable personal assistance and says his attempt to enter the crew’s quarters was meritorious. The master, Captain Derek Crabtree, and the chief steward, Allan John Hempstalk, lost their lives in the fire. The Court consisted of Mr A. C. Perry, barrister and solicitor, (chairman), Captain D. N. McLeish, retired master mariner, Mr T. A. Varley, fire services engineer, and Mr A. A. M. Taylor, naval architect.

The report finds among other things, that: • <. “*> (1) The commencement of the fire is unknown, but that it was first discovered on the vessel about 11.40 p.m. by the assistant steward, and noticed almost at the same time by a member of the public on a hill above the vessel.

(2) Its place of origin is unknown, but that it arose in the accommodation part of the vessel, either in the starboard half of the upper deck or in the main deck round about the stairways. (3) It spread around those areas, into the master’s and first mate’s quarters on the boat deck, and up to the wheel house with great rapidity and .fierceness and with considerable damage. . ' ;

Cause Unknown (4) The cause of the fire is unknown, but it did not arise through electrical faults, spontaneous combustion, or welding or repair operations. (5) The vessel’s fire appliances complied with the Shipping Fire Appliances Rules. 1958. in respect of a vessel of this class; the vessel’s fire drill complied with the Shipping Muster Rules, 1954, and the vessel complied with the shipping (Crew’s Accommodation) Regulations, 1954. (.6) On receiving an qlarm, the Lyttelton Fire Brigade answered the call promptly. Its equipment was adequate, but valuable parts of its equipment—breathing apparatus—were not used.

(7) The brigade was assisted by the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s officers and fire-fighting equipment, which was adequate. A member of the police also assisted. The brigade’s quick arrival was meritorious.

(8) At the time the fire was discovered, the regulations were complied with, in that there was a seaman on board to answer the hail of the nightwatchman, but no-one had been detailed to do so. Rescue Attempt The findings refer to an unsuccessful attempt at the rescue of 'the master and add: “It would appear that further and more persistent attempts should hrffre been made. There was delay in the recovery of the body of the master and an assumption made—possibly wrongly by all concerned—that he was dead when an attempt might have been made to recover and revive him.” The report says the inquiry has shown where improvements cap be effected as follows: In the design of parts of the accommodation of this vessel and, possibly, other vessels; in fire drills and in training for fire-fighting: in methods of alarm; in the methods of calling the Lyttelton Fire Brigade and in its contractual duty to attend fire ori vessels in port; in the keeping of watch on vessels in

port, and possibly in systems of fire detection and prevention. Various recommendations toward the achievement of these improvements are made in the report. ' Tribute to Master the report finds that the master, Captain Crabtree, was an.abstemious man, a diligent and

conscientious master of his ship, and highly regarded, and that the chief steward, Mr Hempstalk was described as “a family man” and his conduct seemed to be blameless. . The Court a|so reports that it considers the owners of the vessel, the Holm Shipping Company were diligent in ensuring that the vessel was properly constructed and equipped, and approval was obtained from all interested parties.

“The recommendations made in this report for the improvement of the vessel are the result of searching inquiries made as to the result of the fire which has thrown certain matters into relief.”

The Court’s report also includes a sentence from a publication; “Ships Fires.” published in 1957 by the Fire Offices’ Committee Fire Protection Association: “Important though these structural ahd mechanical means of protection are, the safety of a ship lies ultimately in the hands of those who man her, and of those in whose care she lies in port, loading. unloading or being repaired.”