TUG INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1938, Page 5

TUG INQUIRY

; EVIDENCE OF SILOT. (Per Press Association—Copyright). v : ; AUCKLAND, 22. When ..the .To Awliina tug inqiiir> was resumed this morning Captain Kel ;;sey, pilot )on -the ' Essex admitted to -Mr Finlay -that the decision in ordinary circumstances to put the Te Awhina jaft and the strongest tug' the -William .C. Daldy ‘ forward, was decided at a conference' of'pilots and Hlie, harbourmaster .when’ the tug Daldy arrived at ■ Auckland.; There, was,, ' therefore,, no (point in the references to the greater speed of the Daldy and,'that -she took the forward position because the Te Awhina “always followed on.” It was left to the discretion •of the tug master to. tie up in a safe position. To .Mr W. R. McKean (chairman), witness said there, had ; been -no' previous accident of that sort. Tugs were often drawn in against the side of ■ships but it was the first time one had been struck by 'the propellers. . ; '■ To Mr FiMay. witness’said-conditions at Auckland made it necessary to use engines neaily all the time. The safety of the ship being berthed depended upon that. The last resort of the tugmaster when he. felt the ship being drawn under the propellers was to (steam well ahead. A signal from the tug might give the pilot an opportunity to help if there was time, but if ijvhat Captain D. Probert had Baid )yas correct, no signal could have been given in time to save the Te Awhina. (Tcr JDr. Foden, witness - said he knew ncdhiip*? of an accident with “an American! ship’' that wag responsible for the conference ypgarding the position .of turns. v G \v"

William Mow’att-. surveyor of ships, described .’an examination of the Te Awhina between ~May 16, and May 28 last. The watertight door was functioning properly. tug was puton the slip it was founcf it was working satisfactorily. r • i •

To Mr (for the acting chiefengineer). witness said th e handle of the door was on the wrong way. He could not understand if the engineer had said ho tried it both ways'-why it could not be closed. -

To Mr Moody (for Caotain Probert). witness said the order should be given from the bridge for the doors to be closed hut that he would act on his own initiative if in .a position of danger and inform the captain of what he had done- .■; :■ i' “ •/",

Witness told Mr .MeKean the door could be closed in a minute and 'a half. To D*. Eoden. he said he did notknow whether the ship would have floated if thedoor was closed. John Kerr, who assisted in the as nual survey, said the pump s were in good order. - Be did not' think the pumps could have competed with the rupture. . .