PORT BOWEN DECISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1939, Page 5

PORT BOWEN DECISION

MASTER'S JUDGMENT AT FAULT.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, November 3.

.The decision of the Court of Inquiry which yesterday investigated the stranding of the Port Bowen on the beacli at Castlecliff on July 19 was an-

nounced this afternoon. The Court, which consisted of Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., Captain C. IL Worrall (Wellington), and Captain A. J. Charman (Christchurch) found as follows: — That the Port Bowen was stranded on the beach through an error of judgment of Francis William Bailey, master of the vessel, (1) in coming in too fast after picking up the Castlecliff light, in view of the fact that he had not picked up the leading lights at the anchorage; (2) in not paying sufficient attention to the record of the echometer sounding apparatus; and (3) in not stopping his vessel ■when the sounding of 80 feet was recorded, which indicated that the vessel was close inshore.

The Court felt that the error of

judgment was brought about rather by lack of local knowledge than bj' any culpable act, and considered that the circumstances did not call for suspension or cancellation of the master’s certificate.

No order was made concerning the costs of the inquiry.

SALVAGE EXPENDITURE. If. is estimated that more than £lOO.OOO has been spent in an effort to salvage the Port Bowen and save the valuable cargo of frozen meat, butter, and cheese, which was aboard her. The saving of the cargo justified the expense. What is to become of the vessel is still a matter of speculation, says the “Wanganui Chronicle.” Unconfirmed reports state that the insurance company has paid out on the risk and the ship is likely to be abandoned. On the other hand it is a fact that an offer to get the ship off for £ll.OOO and deliver her in deep waler has been made. If insurance on the vessel has been paid out. it. is presumed that she is now really the property of those who have paid, and if she is got off the beach she will be taken over by the insurance company. It is argued that any effort to get the vessel off that does not involve the owners in expense would be worth while, provided that the vessel herself is sufficiently sound to be made seaworthy for a journey to Wellington.