Kaitawa Inquiry Counsel Suggests Points Court May Recommend

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31159, 8 September 1966, Page 3

Kaitawa Inquiry Counsel Suggests Points Court May Recommend

(Aetc Zealand Press Association! WELLINGTON, September 7. An independent inquiry should be held into the need for fitting radar to all coastal ships, the Marine Court of Inquiry was told in Wellington'today.

The Court today completed its six-day investigation into 1 the loss of the 2500-ton collier Kaitawa. Phe Court’s findings will he reported to the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott).

Mr R. C. Savage, for the Marine Department. told the Court the evidence produced and the possible reasons put forward for the tragedy suggested several recommendations the Court might make. One would be the setting up of an independent inquiry into whether radar should be fitted to all ships on the coast.

Other recommendations might be:— Safer stowage of distress flares so that they could not be washed overboard. | Demonstrations of inflatable life-rafts, at present not included in crews’ emergency drill. I Recording equipment at

coastal radio stations to keep a permanent record of distress messages.

Replacement of wooden superstructure doors with steel doors.

Moving crew accommodation on colliers one deck higher. to facilitate escape in an emergency.

Automatic homing beacons on life-rafts so that rescuers could find them more quickly.

; Mr Savage said that al-! 'though the lack of radar aboard the Kaitawa had been! made a major issue during the inquiry, "this is not the right place to recommend ! whether it should be fitted or . not.” Guild’s View For the Merchant Service Guild, Mr A. F. Mac Alister said the inquiry had shown there was wide support for the guild’s claim that better ! navigational aids were I needed. I “It is a great pity it has I taken a tragedy of this magInitude to gain that support. I “New Zealand is lagging in the field of navigational aids and masters are entitled to

I the advantages available alImost universally overseas.” Mr R. W. Edgley, for the i Union Steam Ship Company, Told the Court there was “no I evidence at all” that Captain I Sherlock had overloaded his ship. The Kaitawa had been I loaded strictly according to liter draught marks. I Evidence had shown the {company was “zealous” in J maintaining hatch-covers in a (water-tight condition. If this were not so, it was likely i {there would be some action; from the Seamen’s Union—, {“Those who will not sail with-] I out television will not sail i (without secure hatches.” j I The question of radar was! (“irrelevant,” said Mr Edgley.) “Know Position” Confirming his evidence today. Captain P. Pallin, as- ! sistant-marine superintendent {of the Union Company, said 26 Union Company ships were fitted with rubber self-inflat-ing life-rafts, and with them went instructions on use, and placards with coloured diagrams illustrating the instructions. One of these placards was displayed in the Kaitawa’s crew messroom.

Asked about the allegation that the Kaitawa was overloaded 33 tons at Westport. Captain Pallin said this figure tallied with the decreased density of the water at the berth, due to fresh water being mixed with the salt. Previous heavy rain would have increased the freshwater. Because of the fresh water

lthe Kaitawa would have been loaded down to her freshwater draught Captain Pallin said he was confident Captain Sherlock knew where the Kaitawa was He would know exactly his position an hour earlier by visual bearings on shore lights—at the time of passing Pandora Bank and the Cape Horn. “1 should imagine he would still know his position subsequent to that. At 9 p.m., the time of the ’Mayday’ call, the {master’s dead-reckoning of 'his position could not have been very far out.” Radar In Ships [ Colliers had passed over the area of shallower water many times before in similar; weather and sea conditions, said Captain Pallin. In his opinion the Kaitawa did not have a list at 8 p.m. j when she passed the Cape; Horn. Whatever happened ; came suddenly later.

But, he said, he was not happy about opinions expressed earlier about the area of shallow turbulence. “We have now information about a turbulent area of water in this position.” He did not think Captain Sherlock would know about it. He said he was in some doubt on whether a particular turbulent area was the cause of the sinking. The force of the tide against the wind, at that time, would raise a big sea anywhere. Captain Pall in said he did not think radar equipment could have been of much use to the Kaitawa after it began listing. It would give only intermittent information.

Of the Union Company’s 57 ships—eight of these stayed in Australian waters—32 had radar and six more were now being fitted.