SHIPS IN COLLISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1937, Page 7

SHIPS IN COLLISION

COURT BLAMES MASTER. [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN.—COPYBIGHT.] MELBOURNE, February 12. The Marine Court which enquired into the collision between the Kakariki and the Caradale held that the master of the Kakariki, Thomas William White, was in default in failing to keep out of the way of the Caradale, when, by his action in altering his course to port, the Kakariki became the crowding ship with the Caradale on her starboard bow. White thus committed breaches of Clauses 19 and 22 respectively of the Navigation Collision Regulations. The Court, however, found that White was not guilty of a gross act of misconduct. - It "added "that had both ships kept their respective courses they would have cleared each other port side to port side, but the Kakariki altered her course to port, making a collision inevitable. Claiming £15,000 damages for alleged negligence in the navigation and control of the Kakariki, James Patrick and Company Ltd., owners of the Caradale, have issued a writ against the Union Steam Ship Company. The city coroner held an inquiry into the death of three of the five men of the Kakariki’s crew who were killed in the collision. After hearing evidence, he found that the men died of drowning by misadventure. The Caradale collided with the Kakariki off the Gellibrand Pile Light near Williamstown early on the morning of January 30. The Kakariki was sunk, and five members of the crew were lost.