HARBOUR COLLISION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10687, 6 September 1920, Page 5

HARBOUR COLLISION

COURT’S FINDING

FERRY CAPTAIN’S ERROR OF JUDGMENT. The finding of the court of inquiry which sat to hear the evidence respecting the collision which took place between the Eastbourne Borough Council’s ferry steamer Duchess and the liner Ruahine, belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company, was delivered in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. It was as follows: — “The court having heard and considered the evidence tendered in connection with the collision between tho 6.9. Duchess and the s.s, Ruahine, which happened in Wellington Harbour on the morning of July 27th, 1920,' finds that the casualty occurred through the s.s. Duchess over-running her distance in a thick fog while approaching the Queen’s wharf, and colliding with the s.s. Ruahine, which was there lying moored. . “The court finds that although the master, John Lowry, took the same precautions and adopted tho same methods in approaching the wharf from Point Jerningham through the fog ns on previous occasions, yet these were insufficient in the conditions then prevailing, and the casualty was contributed to by an error or judgment on his part in underestimating the speed of his vessel and in running at full speed for three minutes into the ■ increasing fog before taking steps to reduce his speed or stop. “The court considers that by following the practice adopted on previous occasions in foggy weather, the master was also misled through tho density of the fog, which prevented him picking up the Queen’s wharf, as expected, after running for four minutes at reduced speed, and made tho pollision inevitable. , although the engines were then, stopped. • “The court finds-that, the casualty was not contributed to by tho wrongful act or default of any other officer or member of the crow of the s.s. Duchess. “The court is .of opinion .that a fog signal of some distinct character should fcs installed by the Wellington Harbour Board on the tower of the Queen’s wharf and sounded during . foggy weather for the guidance and benefit of .vessels, requiring to approach - ■ the wharves during such conditions. “The master’s certificate will be returned, bpt the court orders that ho pay one half of the costs of this Inquiry-*' The court was presided over by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., and the asscsijj'sors were':—Captain S. G. Smith (late Government Superintendent of Mercantile Marino at Wellington), Captain W.. Muir (formerly master of .the tug Duco),.and Mr.W- Hood (marine ‘ engineer, ■of Epuni' street, Wellington). Air E. K .Kirkcaldie appeared for Captain Lowry, of the Duchess, Mr A. W. Blair for the owners of the Duchess, Mr T. Young for the insurance company, Mr M. Myers for the captain and owners of the Ruahine, Mr J. F. B. Stevenson for the Harbour Board, and Mr Prendeviile for the Marine Department.