AnnualReport-1916 — Page 96

D 15

(3) On the 13th March, 1916, enquiry was held into the strand- ing of the British S.S. Australian Transport, Official No. 132,812 of West Hartlepool.

The Court found as under :-

We find that the British S.S. Australian Transport, Official No. 132,812, West Hartlepool, of which Frederick Robert Clarke, the number of whose certificate is 010140, West Hartlepool, was master, left Batavia on December 23rd, 1915, for Vladivostock, mean draft 24 feet, and proceeded through the Palawan Passage, and along the N.W. Coast of Luzon and was steering to pass Eastward of Formosa Island when she stranded at 11.45 p.m. on the 4th January, 1916, on the S.W. point of Sama Sana Island or now called Hoi Sho To Island. We consider that up to the time of such stranding the navigation of the ship had been carried out in a proper and efficient manner, and that the track this ship was taking East of Formosa Island was one generally followed by low powered vessels during the N.E. Monsoon. Taking into consideration the position of the ship as shown by Dead Reckoning on the 4th January, we do not consider that the master would have been justified in steering any courses other than he did, as owing to the great depth of water it would be impossible to obtain soundings. The stranding of this ship was in no way the fault of the master or crew, but was entirely due to an unknown current which could not be allowed for, and which set the ship N. 73° W. 12 hours 11′ and also to the heavy rain squalls and general bad weather prevail- ing. After the ship struck, every thing was done by the master and crew in a seaman-like way to get the ship off, and we appreciate the tremendous amount of labour necessary to jettison so much heavy cargo under the existing conditions. The Court take this opportunity of congratulating the master, officers and crew on their successful efforts.

(4) On the 5th day of April, 1918, a Marine Court sat to re-hear the investigation into the charge of misconduct made against Warren Smith, the number of whose certificate of competency was 2046 of Victoria, chief engineer of the British S.S. Wollowra, Official No. 104,811 of Hongkong.

The Court found as follows:---

We are of opinion that the present Court of Inquiry must be regarded as a new Court quite independent of the other Court which gave its decision on the 11th day of February, 1916. We find that the said Warren Smith was guilty of a gross act of misconduct in defying the master at Saigon inasmuch as he told him that he had no control over him and the engineer room staff. We are also of opinion that the said Warren Smith was guilty of a gross act of misconduct by defying the master when he threw on the table the said letter containing his commands. We are of opinion that what occurred in Hongkong did not amount to a gross act of misconduct although the Court is of opinion that his conduct was most reprehen- sible. We therefore order his chief engineer's certificate No. 2046 of Victoria to be suspended for a period of 4 months, such suspension to take effect from the 11th day of February, 1916, and that during such time a second engineer certificate will be granted him.