COLLISION AT GISBORNE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16977, 13 April 1917, Page 5

COLLISION AT GISBORNE

FENDING OF COURT OF INQUIRE BOTH CAPTAINS RESPONSIBLE. (Peb United Peess Association.) '*i ■ti, a■■ r A YCKLAND, Apnl K> > I . lie decision of tho Nautical Court which > inquired into the collision between the Ara- I nura.and a Home liner in the Gisbome roadstead on the night of March 1 was de- -' livered to-day. L ' It was found by tie court that the Araiiura weighed anchor about 11 p m., and, > although the master (Captain Drjden) then Home liner's green and masthead ' light, no wrongly assumed that she was not under way, and he decided to pass round the liners bow. Shortly after leaving the anchorage Captain Dryden saw that the . liner was under way, and moving in a direotion across the Arahura's bow. The vee- > sels were then " crossing" vessels and it was the duty of the liner to keep out of the way of the Arahura. When Captain; JJryden saw that a collision inevitable if he kept his course and speed, he shoul? immediately have stopped the vessel ani reversed the engines, and given the liner tun* to get out of the way. Instead, Captain Dryden put .the holm hard a-porl, stopped both engines, and just before the impact put the helm hard a-starboard and the en- ' fines full speed ahead. He was not justiu i n <- jS erin ? :tae ves sel'B course to starboard. The lmer got under way about the ' same time as the Arahura, with, hor engines going slow ahead and her helm'hard a-star-pard. Captain Goddard shortly afterwards < < sighted the Arahura approaching on the starboard quarter. He stopped his engines and gave the order "Full astern." The * hner had gathered some headway, and was still going ahead a little when' tho impact occurred. The order " Full astern " should not have been given, but the error did not contribute to the collision. Had thero been a lookout on the liner the Arahura would have been seen some time before Captain Goddard, who did not know of the vessel's close approach, gave the order " Slow . ahead." Had he known of the approach of the Arahura it would have been 'his obvious \ duty to have remained stationary or ordered the engines astern. The liner would not havo been justified in attempting to cross the Arahura's bow, as she was the "giving , away " ship. The court found that the collision was , due to the combined neglect of the masters, of the vessels, but decided not to deal with, the certificates. The costs of the inquiry were ordered to be paid by 'Captains Goddard and Dryden in equal shares. Tho Arahura was docked to-day, and is l expected to resume her running at tho end of next week.