NAUTICAL INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11934, 15 September 1924, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

INTO RIPPLE DISASTER “WIRELESS COULD NOT HAVE HELPED.” CAPTAIN SEWELL’S EVIDENCE. The nautical inquiry into the loss of the steamer Ripple was resumed on Saturday, when the evidence of Captain Sewell, master of the Mararoa, was taken. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., was on the bench, and with him were Captains Baron and Muir. Mr J. Prendeville appeared for the Marine Department, Mr J. P. B. Stevenson for Messrs Richardson and Co., owners of the vessel, Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie for the Merchant Service Guild, and Mr W. T. Young represented the Seamen’s Union ON THE MARAROA THE SEARCH FOR THE RIPPLE. Thomas Bartlett Sewell, master ot the Mararoa, deposed that he had left Lyttelton on August 6th in the evening for Wellington. The weather was not bad at first, but began to freshen from the south-east and south passing Kaikoura. At 2.38 a.m. he recon ed a wireless message stating that the s.g. Ripple had broken down off Cape Palliser and required assistance. They had passed the Maori about a quarter of an hour before receiving the message. At 0.12 they picked: up the land, and followed a course to the north-west. The land he saw he took to he PaJliser, and this he later verified. Here he cruised round following various courses, standing as dose in as he thought it was safe to do. The land: was occasionally hidden with sudden squalls of rain, hut at 11.52 a.m. they saw the outline of the land quite clearly. The lighthouse was then north 36 west, about six miles off. From the time he received the message until he turned to run for Wellington, there was a heavy southerly gale with confused sea and had visibility. At times he could not see half a mile. It would have been extremely difficult to have seen the Ripple even if she had been in the vicinity. It was more like a fog than rain, with the spams ’ from the waves drifting in the air. After he had got the message he had proceeded to the,spot indicated at full-speed', but the vessel was making heavy weather of it, and it took 4$ hours before they picked up the land. WHO DECIDES WHEN PUTTING TO BEAP Mr Prendeville: When the weather is bad, whose decision is it that determines whether or not the vessel puts to sea?—The captain; he' knows best what liis ship can do. To Mr T. Young: At the time of the message he was, by dead reckoning, about 55 miles from Palliser. "the Mararoa, in ordinary weather, could do 14 knots. Mr Young: The Maori can do 13 knots, can she not?—Yes. _ . Mr Young: And at the time you re.’ oeived the message, the Maori was only seven miles away from you P—Yes, about that. Mr Young: Then would it not have been better to have ordered the Maori to the rescue; she could have reached Palliser sooner?—am not sure that the Maori could have done any better in that weather- with a heavy boam sea. Mr Young: What would happen if a single screw vessel threw her propellor? Would she not become helpless, and roll in the trough of the sea? —It depends on the trim of the ship. Some would, while, others would swing and keep their stern to the sea. Mr Young: In any case, the ship would he out of control.—Yes. IF CANVAS WAS CARRIED. Mr Young: If the ship carried some canvas which could he set at a moment’s notice, might it not enable yon to keep control of the vessel P —Yes, it might nave been that much use. Mr Young: What would have been the effect if the Ripple had carried a sea anchor P—lt would have kept her head to the sea. Mr Young: If the Ripple had oarried ■wireless could you at her direction nave steered a coulee straight for herP—No , Mr Young: Not if she gave you her exact position?—Not in that weather. My time of departure was only approximate. Mr Young: Would not it have been of some assistance in finding the Ripple had she oarried wireless P—-It might have enabled ms to pick up Palliser, from whioh I could take new bearings. In that weather I would not have had the slightest dhanco of picking up the Ripple herself. , To Mr Stevenson: In his opinion ths possession of wireless Iw the Ripple would not have been of any help to him in finding the vessel any more than was done ov the message he actu. ally received. Als regards sea anchors, these could be rigged up on any vessel in distress; it was not necessary to carry one. At this stage the hearing was ad journed until 10.30 on Wednesday next.