Marine Collision

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 40, 17 February 1938, Page 2

Marine Collision

LATE EDITION

The Wanganella and a Trawler EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Thursday, 1.15 a.m. . SYDNEY, Feb. 16, The Marine Court opened an inquiry to-day into the collision between the Wanganella and the trawler Durraween on December 28. Arthur Noel, third officer of the Wanganella, who was in charge at the time of the collision, 1.40 a.m., said he saw a green light straight ahead and some minutes later, thinking the two vessels would pass rather close, he altered the Wanganella’s course half-a-point. When the Durraween was about 400 yards off, Noel observed her red port light, indicating she had changed her course. Seeing that a collision was inevitable, he altered the Wanganella’s course in order to make a glancing blow, but actually the trawler struck the Wanganella at right angles. The night was cloudy. Samuel Mills, master of the Durraween, who was on the bridge, said he did not see the Wanganella’s lights until four or five minutes before the collision, a mile or more off. He then saw her starboard lights on his port bow, and altered his course one point to starboard. There was a thin mist, otherwise he would have seen the Wanganella sooner. There was no doubt in his mind that the Wanganella, under the sea regulations, should have got out of his way, as she was coming on his port bow.

The Court reserved its decision until to-morrow.