NAUTICAL INQUIRY

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1934, Page 5

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

STRANDING OF HOLMGLEN. ERROR OF JUDGMENT. CAPTAIN ■TO PAY COSTS. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An account of how the motor ship Holmglen. (448 tons) struck the rocks at Pompey’s Pillar near Akaroa, on February 17, was given by Captain W. J. Mead, master of the vessel, at the nautical inquiry yesterday before Mr E. Page, S.M., and Captain Worall and Captain E. Dewhurst, assessors. The Holmglen left Timaru for Lyttelton on February IC. Nearing the Banks Peninsula she ran into a heavy fog shortly before 3 a.m. on February 17, and it was estimated by dead reckoning that the vessel was off Pompey’s Pillar. Almost immediately afterwards the vessel struck with some force. The forepcak tank immediately flooded, and it was seen that the foremost part of the vessel and the stern were damaged. Not knowing whether the ship would sink or not, the crew made preparations to abandon the vessel. Lifebelts were- donned and lifeboats were .swung out in readiness. However, it was found that the foreward bulkhead rvas holding, and the vessel proceeded to Lyttelton, and subsequently to Wellington for repairs. Captain Holm, managing director of the Holm Shipping Co., Ltd,, oAvners of the vessel, said that as a result of the mishap 10 plates had been damaged. The repairs had cost £I6OO, After giving detailed evidence regarding the mishap, Captain Mead said the visibility Avas not as good as he thought it Avas. The only reason he could give in explanation of the mishap Avas that it was due either to a set running against the ship or to an error in the log. He had been at sea now for over 20 years and had had considerable experience of coastwise navigation. This Avas the first time he had been involved in a marine inquiry. Mr Foden, avlio appeared for .Captain Mead: “I daresay you feel that your estimate of the visibility in this particular fog. was in error?”—“Yes, it certainly Avas.” Mr Foden: “But you are. satisfied that you did your best to penetrate the fog and pick up any object to give you an estimate of your situation?” — ‘ ‘ That is so. ” The Court found that Captain Mead had committed an error of judgment in steering too fine a course, and ordered him to pay £lO 10/ towards the cost of the inquiry. His certificate Avas returned. “He set substantially the course, he had taken on earlier occasions when visibility Avas good,” said Mr Page, in giving the decision of the Court, “First, having regard to the relatively low pOAver and speed of the vessel and the thick fog prevailing, I think he should have given himself a wider margin of safety.”