LOST FROM LAUNCH

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1931, Page 11

LOST FROM LAUNCH

TERAWHITI TRAGEDY

TEST OF STABILITY

EXPERT'S EVIDENCE-

A suggestion that fishing boats should to subjoct to a more complete examination thaa they are at present was made by Captain W. J. Keano, of, the Marine Department, in his evidonee at the inquest into the deaths of Captain A. M. Stuart, Mr. B. B. Coppack, and Mr. H. N. Stuart, who w.erc; lost off the launch Islander in the Tcrawhiti "rip" on Bth February. . Captain Keane was of the opinion that if the launch had been examined by competent ships' surveyors the underballasting would have been seen to, and the disaster avoided. The Coroner, Mr. L Salek,. J.P., before giving the formal finding that the deceased were drowned by the overturning of the launch, said that the boat was well found, and was in tho hands of a competent master. It was presumed that tho accident was caused by the state of tho sea and tide, and the inability I of the boat to right itself after being struck by an exceptionally heavy wave. Captain Keane stated that after an investigation into tho stability of the launch Islander under the same condi-. tions as at the time of the mishap ho had come to the conclusion that the launch had good stability up to .m angle 'of 30 degrees heel. Beyond that angle tho righting force diminished rapidly, and it disappeared at 68 degrees. The launch had a satisfactory initial stability, but an unsatisfactory rango of stability. To negotiate such places as the Torawhiti rip with safety under conditions such as existed at tho time of the accident, range of stability was the most important factor. Explaining the cause of tho accident, Captain Keane said that the launch had probably been allowed to come broadside on to one of the steep seas in the rip. When on the oncoming side of the wave tho launch, owing to her great initial stability, -would make a violent endeavour to bring her deck parallel with the surface of the water. This roll would be accentuated by tho j circular movement of the wavo crest and would tend to put the launch further over. Owing to the ballast being loose and other items in the launch, such as chain rolling down to the low side, it would be reasonable to expect that tho 'range of stability would be still further dimiuishcdi ■ Dealing with the condition of the boat when floating at tho designed water line, Captain Keane said that she would right herself at any angle up' to. 80 degrees.Eeplying to the Coroner, Captain Keane said that the only examination fishing launches were subject to at present was in connection with life-saving appliances and navigation lights. Ho would advise a more thorough survey by tho Department, as ordinary seafaring masters did not usually have a great knowledge of technical work in connection with stability. The examination would not take long, and it would not bo expensive. Mr. Salek: "I think it is very necessary." Cross-examined by Mr. H. Arndt, who appeared for the relatives of the late Captain. Stuart, witness said that Captain Stuart would have been misled by the great initial.stability, of his launch into believing, that she " -was | carrying enough ballast.