CERTIFICATES SUSPENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22325, 27 July 1934, Page 3

CERTIFICATES SUSPENDED

WRECK OF A TRAWLER Following a decision by Sheriff Laing at Aberdeen, the Board of Trade lately suspended the certificates of a father and son. The finding came as a sequel to the total loss of the Aberdeen trawler Victory, which was stranded on Norman Rock at the north end of May Island. The certificate of the skipper, John Duthie Buchan, jun., was suspended for four months, and that of the mate, John Duthie Buchan, sen., for six months. Sheriff Laing decided that it was the divided command which led to the loss of the Victory. Having regard to the interests of the fishing industry, he could not too strongly condemn an arrangement such as was made here. Buchan, sen., was the original skipper, but was signed on as mate. The sheriff found that the loss was duo to the failure of Buchan, the elder, either to take a course round the south end of the island, or during his course round the north end of the island, to keep a proper look-out. The loss was contributed to by bis son in banding over command instead of carrying out tlie duties for which be, as skipper, alone was responsible. The court refused an application on behalf of father and sen that they should be granted mates’ certificates.