SINKING OF A SCOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15914, 11 May 1915, Page 4

SINKING OF A SCOW.

INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE.

THEORY OF A SHIPBUILDER.

LEAKAGE IN COVERING BOARD.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the sinking of the scow Combine, while at anchor in Auckland Harbour on January 15, was opened yesterday before a Nautical Court, comprising Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., with Captains H. A. Couldrey and John Adamson. The notice of investigation stated that the Combine, after loading a deck cargo of 100 tons of machinery at the King's Wharf, went to an anchorage at 3 p.m. The ship was pumped dry at 4.50 p.m. and again at 10.30 p.m. Early on the morning of January 16 the vessel listed to starboard and sank, the crew barely having time to save themselves. The vessel was raised and the cargo recovered, the damage to the scow amounting to about £60. The questions the Court was asked to decide were whether on January 15, before she sank, the Combine was (a) unseaworthy, (b) overloaded, (c) loaded with a list to starboard; and, further, whether the sinking was due to one or more of these causes.

Mr. Selwyn Mays represented the Marino Department, instructed by the Collector of Customs, Mr. J. P. Ridings. Mr. George Winstone, jun., appeared on behalf of Messrs. Winstone, Ltd., the owners of the scow.

Another Case Recalled. In opening, Mr. Selwyn Mays said this was the second case of its kind within a comparatively recent period, The scow Kaiatiu, loaded with earthenware pipes, had sunk under similar circumstances, but an inquiry had not been necessary as the cause of the mishap was apparent. On the causes of the sinking of the Combine, however, it was difficult to throw very much light. That the vessel should sink within such a 6hort time after being pumped out was remarkable, and he asked the Court to consider whether the second pumping, alleged to have taken place at 10.30 p.m., ever took place at all. The second point for consideration was whether the vessel was, not so much overloaded, but badly loaded. Johan Emil Isedor Johanspn, master of the 6cow Combine, said that after _ discharging from 110 to 115 tons of shingle from Takatu Beach he had taken on board from the .King's Wharf 100 tons of machinery. He assisted in the loading operations, and considered that the vessel had not suffered any structural damage in the stowage of the cargo. When fully loaded the scow showed a freeboard of from 4in to sin, as compared with a freeboard of 2ft lOin before loading. There was a slight list to starboard. At 4.30 p.m. he left the scow, after ascertaining that two members of the crew were going to sleep on board. The Master's Opinion.

I Mr. Mays: What, in your opinion, was the cause of the mishap?—My opinion is the scow suddenly sprang a leak. Charles Albert James Street, an ordinary seaman on the Combine whose duties included attending to the lights, v said he was not compelled to pump the vessel out, but he did this for his own 6afety. He assisted in pumping the vessel out at 4.30 p.m., and left with the rest" of the crew at five o'clock. He and Peter, a Russian, slept on board. Peter raid he had tried the pumps at 10 p.m., but witness took the precaution of trying the 6tarboard pump, and found that the ship was dry. , Thomas Hearn, able seaman on the scow, said the master was not on board when the siow anchored. There was not much water in the ship when they pumped her out at the moorings. Ho had no idea how the vessel came to sink.

Captain johanson, recalled, admitted h$ was not on board when the scow went to her moorings, but he watched the crew from a distance pumping out the vessel at 4.30 p.m.

Opinion Shared by Two.

Robert Henderson, shipbuilder, said his film repaired the Combine after she was raised. He was of the opinion that the sinking of the scow was due to a leakage in the starboard covering board. The scow having a list to starboard the defectvie board bad been submerged and water had flowed in. He did not consider that the covering board had been damaged by the cargo slipping when the scow sank, but thought that the damage was done in loading. No other damage to the structure of the 6hip could account for the sinking. William Gordon Bell, Government surveyor of ships, said the Combine was seaworthy in November. He held the same opinion as the previous witness as to the cause of the scow sinking, and saw nothing other than the split covering board to account for the mishap. The vessel was kept in first-class order. Mr. Mays said he had no evidence to offer on the point of overloading. The Court was then adjourned until Monday. t