SHIPMASTERS’PROTEST.

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1928, Page 5

SHIPMASTERS’PROTEST.

AGAINST FINDING. Of Greydiffe Inquiry. A PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITY. (Australian m IN. z. Cable a.b«u.,) (Received January 10, at 8.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 10. A meeting of twentyfive shipmasters at the Merchant Service Guild, adopted a resolution that Mr. Justice Campbell’s finding in connection with the Greycliffe Disaster involved physical impossibility, in as much as it was impossible for the Tahiti to approach the Greycliffe from any direction from ten degrees to ninety degrees, on the port quarter, and to bring about an impact with the Greycliffe, with any part of the Tahiti except her stern. Captain Lawrence, General Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild said that there was no mark anywhere on port quarter of the Greycliffe, indicating or corresponding to the blow from the Tahiti’s stern.

Shipmasters also express the opinion that if the collision was brought about by the Tahiti with her stern, striking the Greycliffe to twenty degrees, as found by the Court, it would not cause the Greycliffe to take up the position which would eventually and shortly afterwards allow the Tahiti to again strike the Greycliffe at an angle from fortyfive to seventy degrees at a. spot on the side of the Greycliffe fortly feet ahead of the place where the Court held the first impact took place. The meeting also determined that the position should not be allowed to remain as it is, and further meetings are to be held. Inquest Proceedings. I ASSISTANT HARBOURMASTER’S evidence. 1 NAVIGATION DIRECTIONS OBSOLETE. SYDNEY, January 10. At the Greycliffe Inquest, Captain Hildebrand, First Assistant Harbourmaster. gave evidence that the sailing directions for Sydney Harbour, which were issued by the State Navigation Department, were obsolete. He preferred to rely on his own local knowledge. He added that more often than not, sailing directions were not observed by outward-bound vossels. The Navigation Department was now preparing new directJttns.