Waikouaiti Inquiry Opens

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1939, Page 6

Waikouaiti Inquiry Opens

[Per Press Association. — Copyright ] WELLINGTON, This Day.

A formal inquiry into the ioss of the Union Steamship Company’s intercolonial steamer Waikouaiti, which was wrecked off Dog Island, three miles from Bluff, on the night of November 28, began in Wellington today. „ The Waikouaiti (3926 tons) was on a voyage from Sydney to Lyttelton when she r*m aground in a fog. She was abandoned by the underwriters a few days later. Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., presided and the nautical assessors were Captains L. S. H. Worrall and J. Mawson. Details of Course Withheld.

Before the taking of evidence, the magistrate said the ship had been proceeding on a course fixed by the Admiralty, and !he asked that details of the course be not published, except those immediately relevant to the inquiry. Captain John Bruce, master of the Waikouaiti, said he altered the course during the afternoon of November 28 and remained on it till 8.15 p.m.

During that time there were banks of fog around the mainland. The sea was smooth, with a light soutli'-west wind of force three. lile second officer, who was on watch, checked the ship’s position several times during the afternoon and at 4 p.m. the chief officer relieved him.

Frequently on Bridge,

Bruce said he was frequently on the bridge. At 8 p.m. the fog was patchy to the north and clear to the south.

A bearing was taken by the chief officer at 7,56 p.m. It was the last one marked on the chart.

Dog Island was not visible at that time.

The ship held the same course until 8.15, at which time, seeing that Dog Island was still obscured, he pulled the ship a point and a half to southward.

He considered he would thus clear Dog Island by a mile and a half to two miles.

They had not sighted the light on Dog Island at 8.15. Because of the fog, the ship was doing about 9i knots. It was not quite dark at 8.15. Sighted Land.

Bruce said he maintained his course to pass Dog Island and at 8.37 he sighted land, fine on the port bow. He gave orders to the man at the wheel to put the helm hard a-star-board, at the same time ordering the third officer to ring “stand by.” At 8.38, after the ship came round to the south-east, she struck bottom. In a few seconds the chief officer came on the bridge.

Bruce said he ordered all balance tanks to be sounded.

At 8.38 he rang “stop” to the engine room and gave instructions to have soundings taken all round the ship. Least Depth.

“The least depth found was 16ft. aft,” he continued. “The ship’s draught was 20 feet 5 inches forward and 22 feet 6 inches aft.

He sent to Bluff for the tug. “As the fog became very dense, we fired several distress signals, detonators and sky rockets,” continued Bruce. This was not because there was any immediate danger, but was to indicate the ship’s whereabouts to the pilot launch, which duly arrived. At 10.30 p.m. with the flood tide, the ship started to swing, and he decided to try the engine. He rang full speed astern.

At that time there were 42 fool ol water at the ship’s stern. The chief engineer informed him that he could not turn the engines, as something had fouled Lhc propeller. Then lie thought that rocks might be causing the trouble, but at daylight he found that the stern frame of the ship had been broken and the propeller blades were catching on the frame. Holds Full of Water. The rudder of one of the blades had been broken off. Numbers 1 and 2 holds wore found to be full of water. The lug that had left Dunedin was then sent back, but the pilot launch stood by until 4 a.m., when the mails and the ship’s papers were put aboard and sent ashore. The fog was still dense At 7.30 o’clock the launch came back and towed the crew ashore in three lifeboats. (Proceeding.)