HARBOUR COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19958, 29 May 1928, Page 12

HARBOUR COLLISION.

OVERTURNING OF A SCOW. NAUTICAL INQUIRY OPENED. QUESTION OF CORRECT LIGHTS. • The collision between the collier Hikurangi and the scow Havoc in the Waitemata Harbour on the night of April 2, resulting in the overturning of the scow, was investigated at a marine inquiry which opened yesterday. Mr. E. ,C. Cutten, S.M., presided, and with him, as assessors, were Captain T. Braidwood and Mr. S. Dalrymple. Mr. A. Moody, with Mr. George, appeared for Captain G. N. George, of the Hikurangi, Mr. R. McVeagh for the master of the launch Orcre, which was towing the Havoc from Rangitolo to Auckland, and its owners, the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. F. Lowrie for the owners of the Hikurangi, and Mr. Hubble for the Marine Department. Captain George said tho Hikurangi left Auckland, bound for Whapgarei. on the evening of April 2. lfc was a clear and moonlight night. When nearing the Sandspit beacon he saw a white light about half a mile ahead and slightly on his starboard bow. He took it to be a vessel at anchor, and the mate, who had been on the lookout on the forecastle, came on to the bridge and agreed with him. When the Hikurangi was about a length away witness saw the vessel swing round suddenly. Placing ol Havoc's Lights. Tho white light was on the masthead of the launch and he saw a red light previously obscured by the deckload on the scow. Ho was travelling at about eight knots and maintaining speed and direction. Tho collision could have been avoided if the scow had kept to its course and had not swung round. The lights on the scow could not possibly have complied with the regulations, which stated the port and starboard lights should be visible two miles away. He considered the method of loading and the placing of lights on the Havoc were wrong. Victor Joseph Sayer, mate of the Hikurangi, said he noticed the light and thought it was a vessel anchored in the fairway. Although it was illegal, he had seen vessels anchored in the fairway before. When he saw the light about half-a-mile away there was no danger of a collision and, presuming that the vessel had been at anchor, the course set by the captain would have been perfectly safe. "The people on the Orcre said they had not seen us," witness said. "If they had been keeping a proper look-out they must have seen us. The moon was behind them, while we were looking into it." He added that only the lop masthead light on the launch w r as shining brightly. The others were very dim Launch Master's Evidence. The Orere, with the Havoc in tow, was on a course set from the Rangitoto quarries to the Sandspit tfeacon, said the master of the launch, Ernest Hall. When he first saw the masthead light of the Hikurangi, she was only 50ft. or 60ft. away. The view had been obstructed partly by the stone on the Havoc and partly by the glare from the city lights. Immediately ho saw the steamer he ordered the wheel hard a-starboard and the engine to be reversed. It stopped while reversing. There was practically no alteration to the course, but the Hikurangi struck the Havoc on the shoulder of the port bow. Cross-examined by Mr. Moody, witness said that in setting his course he did not use a compass. He was unable to say de- . finitely whether there was a look-out man. Mr. Moody: You have not got a navigation certificate ? Witness: No, only an oil-driving certificate. That covers — Mr. Moody: A multitude cf sins. Witness was unable to say whether the port and starboard lights on the barge were in a direct line. He did not know who was in charge, ho himself, or the man in charge of the barge. Mr. Moody: And where was the man in charge of the barge ? Witness: He was in with me. He was keeping watch from there. I would c efy you to pick out anything much, coming up the harbour into the glare of the city's lights. Mr. Moody: 1 will give it a go with you one night. Mr. Lowrie: Do officers of the Harbour Board ever inspect your craft and see to the provision of screens for lights on these heavily-laden barges ? —Witness: No, noi necessarily. Mr. McVeagh: If there was any trouble with your lights they would receive immediate attention ?—Yes. Witness attributed tho collision to the fact that the Hikurangi had crossed his path. Tho collier struck the barge at an angle of about 45deg., and if tho barge had not been thero might have struck North Head. He heard no complaint about his lights after the collision. Objection to Evidence. Captain Tomlinson, surveyor of ships for the Marine Department, when giving evidence regarding the survey of both tho Orere and the Havoc, said he did not think the position of the launch alongside the bargo was safe. Mr. McVeagh objected, on the ground that Mr. Moody obtaining expert evidence. The Court upheld the objection. Captain Tomlinson said the lights on the Orere were in order when he had inspected them. William Stephenson, master of the Havoc, said he was at the wheel of the Orere before the collision took place. He saw the masthead light of the Hikurangi over the Havoc's port bow. The collier was then about 100 ft. away. Tho boxes on the barge had previously obscured the view. In reply to Mr. Moody, witness said the Harbour Board gave him no special instructions in the rule of tho road. He was supposed to know something about it, and he had some knowledge, but it was not officially checked. On the night in question he had not told the mate of the barge, Rosenfeldt, to keen a look-out.. He admitted that if he had done so the Hikurangi would have been sighted earlier. Mr. Moody: Did you give him a "blast ?" Witness: No. Ho is bigger than T am. To the best of his knowledge the lights on both the. launch and the bar?e were .til in order at the time of the collision. Ho had inspected them twice after leaving Rancritoto. The inquiry will be resumed this morning.