STRUCK BOTTOM?

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 12

STRUCK BOTTOM?

KINI'S ACCIDENT

IN HAWKES BAY WATERS

MARINE INQUIRY

The circumstances which led to the Union Company's cargo steamer ,-Kini being damaged by striking a submerged object near Bare Island on 10th ApriJ, when on a voyage, from AVellington to Napier, arc being investigated at an inquiry being held'in the Magistrate's Court to-day. ■ . Mr. E. Page, S.M., is conducting tho inquiry, and the nautical assessors are Captain L. C. H. Worrall and Mr. F. W.-Barron. The Crown Solicitor, Mr. J. Prendeville, appears for the Marine Department, and Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie for the muster of the Kini, Captain G. D. FraMASTER'S EVIDENCE. . George David Fraser," the master of the Kini, said the ship had a gross tonnage of ISBS. She was a new vessel, being built in 1930. He detailed the ship's movements after she left Wellington on her first trading trip on 9th April. On her return from Australia the ship left Wellington on 9th April for Napier. The ship was carrying'about 1000 tons of coal and 65 tons of general cargo. The ship was drawing 9ft Gin forward, and 14ft 2iu aft. • The average speed of the vessel was about 10 knots. The'weather was good that night, and the ship passed Black Head at 3.9 p.m. on 10th April, when the ship's course, was changed, witness giving the second mate the new course from-his , room. Shortly f^Jterwards witness was called on the bridge as a fog was coming up. He verified the second mate's bearings, and found them correct. The fog was patchy, and at times there was visibility for two to throe miles through the lanes in the fog. The ship continued on this course until 5 p.m., when witness alter-" ed it another four degrees,; estimating that he was two to ' three miles off Cape Kidnappers. For j;he, next halfhour or so he, estimated that,he could see two to three miles all round. ~ "WHAT'S THAT?". Just before 6 o'clock the mate pointed to something on the port beam and asked, "What's that?" Witness took a glance and ordered ..the ship to be put hard apbrt. Before the ship could get right around she bumped something and almost stopped. The ship appeared to be in.shallow water. Witness kept tho engines going full Speed ahead, and as the ship was heading out to sea, she gradually dragged off. Witness could not tell whether it was land or what it was ho saw when the mate directed his attention, but he knewf he should have been four or five miles off-the land, and could not see that distance in the fog. After' dragging off the ship's speed was greatly reduced. The ship stood out to sea for a time and then turned to lay along tlie'land. Witness set another, course . and at- 7.40 p.m. Cape Kidnappers, was -,' ; reached. They were then five miles off. There was about three dogrees difference between the standard compass and" the steering compass on that course. Witness produced his compass'; variation book, which showed a deviation of up to 6 degrees. The chief officer had got two deviations, and the third officer one deviation on the morning of the accident. j EXACT POSITION UNCERTAIN. Mr. Prcndeville: "That is to say, your course was fluctuating?" Witness; "Well, it had been altering since it was adjusted." Mr. Prendeville: "That being so, don't you think your course from Black Head was too fine?"—"No, we were two miles clear of all danger." Mr. E. Page, S.M.: "What do you suggest you did strike?"—"l don't know. We wero somewhere in the vicinity of Bare Island, but it was foggy and I can't say what it was. From the speed of the ship at Black Head' we should have been past Bare Island." Mr. Prcndeville: "Well, how do you account for your bearing in the logbook being south of Bare Island?" — "That is only an approximate calculation for the purposes of the log-book. I do not say it is accurate." Witness said it was low water at tho time of striking, with a slight swell. Mr. Prendoville: "At tho timo of striking did you take any soundings?" —"No, sir; my course should have been taking me a little bit off the,coast." Mr. Prcndovillo: "Did you; see any rocks or broken water?"—"No, sir." "Did you sco Capstan Bock?"—"No, sir." "Are you quite sure you did not strike Capstan Eock?"—"Quito sure." Witness said he did not think ho struck two sunken rocks in the vicinity of Bare Island, for if ho had he considered the bottom would have come out of, tho ship. . . . Mr. Kirkcaldic: "With the-condition of the glass and the condition of the weather do you think you set a safe course from Black Head?"—" Yes." From previous performances of his vessel and the speed he was making _he would have expected to be two miles past Bare Island at the time he struck, instead of to the south, where he was actually. ■ . "Could you have touched on Bare Island without knowing it?" —"Not unless it runs a long way into the sea." "Has there been any survey of this coast since the earthquake?"—" Not along there." ' Witness'said the diver found mud on the ship, but it also must have hit something ,hard to make the dent on the port side.: He had heard reports that the soundings had altered considerably in Hawkes Bay.. SURE!HE STRUCK GROUND. Mr. E^Page, S.M.: "Is there any doubt in your mind that it was ground you struck?" —"No doubt at all, sir." ■ "Is it your opinion that it was the mainland you saw?"—"l wouldn't like to say that. It was more likely to be Baro Island." "If what you saw was a mile away, what was'the object of going hard aport?"—"l should have been further out." 'Witness said he could have safely passed Bare Island a mile away, but ho did not know it was Bare Island. '.!■'■ ■ '

"As you struck something you must have been nearer than a mile to Bare Island?"—j"l suppose so, unless there has been something new come up there." ! (Proceeding,)