TUG INQUIRY.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20419, 22 September 1938, Page 3

TUG INQUIRY.

SINKING OF TE AWHINA. Question Of Positions. EXAMINER’S STATEMENTS. EVIDENT AT TO-DAY’S SITTING. [By Telegraph.—Press Association]. AUCKLAND, Sept. 22. When the Te Awhina tug inquiry was resumed this morning, Captain Kelsey, pilot on the Essex, admitted to Mr. G. Finlay that the decision in ordinary circumstances to put the Te Awhina aft and the stronger tug, the William C. Daldy, forward, was decided at a conference of pilots and harbourmasters when the William C. Daldy arrived at Auckland. There was therefore no point in the references to the greater speed of the William C. Daldy, and that she took the forward position because the Te Awhina “always followed on.” It was left to the discretion of the tug master to tie up in a safe position.

To Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., witness said there had been no previous accident of this sort. Tugs were often drawn in against the side of a ship, but it was the first time one had been struck by propellers. To Mr. Finlay, witness said condi tions at Auckland made it necessary to use the engines nearly all the time. The safety of a ship being berthed depended upon that. The last resort of the tugmaster when lie felt the ship being drawn under the propellers was to steam well ahead. A signal from the tug might give the pilot an opportunity to help, if there was time, but if what Captain Probert said was correct, no signal could have been given in time to save the Te Awhina. To Dr. Foden, witness said lie knew nothing of the incident with with “an American ship” that was responsible for a conference regarding the position of the tugs. William Mowatt, surveyor of ships, described an examination of the Te Awhina between May 1(5 and May 28 last. The watertight door was func tioning properly. After the tug was put on the slip it was found to bn working satisfactorily. To Mr. Baxter (for the acting-chief engineer), witness said the handle of the door was on the wrong way. Ho could not understand, if the engineer said he tried it both ways, why it could not be closed.

To Mr. Moody (for Captain Probert), witness said an order should be given from the bridge for doors to be closed, but that he would act on his own initiative if in a position of danger, and inform the captain of what he had done. Witness told Mr. McKean the door could be closed in a minute and a half.

To Mr. Foden, he said he did not know whether the ship would have floated if the door was closed. John Kerr, who assisted at the annual survey, said the pumps were in good order. Ho did not think the nuntps could have competed with the rupture.

(Proceeding)