RANGATIRA FINDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 12

RANGATIRA FINDING

The second inquiry into the stranding of the Rangatira has been justified by the finding. The master of the vessel is not completely exonerated, as he was previously. He is found to have committed an error of judgment in proceeding as he did at 16 knots when land was first sighted in the early hours of February 2; but the manner in which he retrieved that error by bringing his damaged ship into port and landing everyone safely is allowed to weigh against that error, and his certificate is returned to him. Such a verdict will satisfy those who felt, after the first inquiry, that the evidence did not justify complete exoneration, yet would have regretted it profoundly if a master who handled his ship as the Rangatira was subsequently handled had been made to suffer a penalty. The judgment of the second Court emphasises a point which must have appealed to all who followed the evidence intelligently, that no use was made of the radio direc-tion-finding facilities which must be assumed to have been provided for use in just such conditions of bad visibility. The master and the chief officer were confident, when land was sighted, that they recognised it. The Court states that even after the vessel 'struck they believed their judgment to have been correct, and it was not until direction-finding bearings had been taken that they realised their error. The only possible conclusion is that if the bearings had been taken earlier, they would have realised it in time to have prevented what actually did happen. Tho emphasis this point is given is the most valuable feature of the finding. The lesson is that masters should avail themselves of radio facilities when the weather makes navigation difficult. They may feel sure of their position without such aids. With them they can be, not merely feel, sure. Thus the risk of disaster can be reduced, and the safety of those who travel by sea be more completely assured.