STRANDING OF OTRANTO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19904, 25 September 1926, Page 19

STRANDING OF OTRANTO.

finding of the court. IFeom Odb Own CobbespCTndbnt.) LONDON, July 30. -The cause of the stranding of the Orient liner Otranto at Cape Grosso, in the Mediterrau ..u on May 11 has been found by Mr Joaeps Sharp©, the Thames Police Court Magistrate, and the nautical assessors who with him held an inquiry on behalf of the Board of Trade, to be that allowance was not made for a current. ' Mr Sharpe said they found that the course steered prior to the casualty was a safe one under normal conditions, but no allowance was made for the strong southwesterly wind that prevailed or for the current tending to carry the ship t'i northward that might have been expected. The possibility of a cloud concealing high land which the master might have known to be in the vicinity should have occurred to him, and it would have bean more prudent to reduce speed earlier. The actual cause of the casualty was the current which sot the vessel to northward out of her course. 'Except for the faults referred to, the vessel was navigated with proper and seamanlike care, and the damage sustained was not due to any wilful act or default of the master. ERRORS OF JUDGMENT. Summing up the findings, Mr Sharpe said: The court finds that the casualty was due to a northerly current which set the vessel on the rocks at Cape Grosso, about 7i miles north-west of Cape Matapan, which it was intended to pass at a distance of 2.7 miles. The court considers that, having regard to the weather conditions, the master commited errors of judgment in failing to make any allowance for a current which might have been expected and in not reducing speed earlier than he contemplated doing. The court had noted with satisfaction the testimony of the passengers to the skill with which be handled the vessel immediately upon and after the casualty, and to the excellent discipline displayed by all.