1926-03-29 — Page 9

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THE STRANDING OF THE

SUNNING." INVESTIGATION BY NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY, A Naval Court of Edquiry assembled at the British Consulate General Shang hai on March 23rd to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stranding of the China Navigation Company's str. Sunning on March 14th The Sunning

the Master, Captain Mills, to have given a definite time to be called, in addition to the distance, or to bare returned to the distance or to have returned to the "bridge" at such time sa he would expect

to be three miles from Button Island.

Thak the Master, Capt. Mille, on arrival on the bridge took all possible steps to avert an accident, and that, subsequent to the stranding of the ship, adequate and seamanlike steps and pro- tions were taken by the Master, Caph Mills, to ensure the safety of life and property.

HONGKONG METEOROLOGICAL :

REGISTIR.

Hongkong Observatory, March 18th.

Previous On Date Or Data.

-Day st at-2 pm 6 am 9pm

80.24 30.18 30 13

33 36

had left Shanghai for Amoy and Hong- kong on March 14th and stranded on Button Island at p.. the same day. She was refloated by 821 pm without outside assistance and returned to Shang- hai under her own steam with but minor injuries to the plates and frames, which Barometer did not affect the safety of the vessel. Temperature The enquiry was called at the request of Humidity the ship's master, Capt. George D. S. Wind Direction. Mille

Fores

Weather Bain

59.

'75

31.

E

NE

3

Galm 0

OD

QD

001

0.00

038

Highest open-air Tamperature on 27th Lowest open-air Temperature an 28th

HONGKONG TIDE TABLE.

From March 29th to April 2th, 1928. HIGH WATER.

Low WATER

Lieut. Commander B. F. Wingfield of E.S. Woodlark, acted as President of the Court, the other members being Allan Archer, O.B.E., B.M. Shipping Vice-Consul at Shanghai: Capt. CD. Logie, master of the stt. Larchbank; and Capt. W. P. Baker, master of the str. Tingsang. Paymaster-Lieut. Best of H.M.S. Ber acted as Clerk of the Court Mr. R. G. McDonald of Messrs. Teesdale, Newman and. MeDecald, appeared for Captain Mills; Mr. R. F. C. Master of Messrs. White Cooper, & Co., appeared: for Mr. Thatcher, second officer of the Sunning, both counsel. acting on instruc tions from the China Coast Officers' Guild. Mr. Lipson Ward watched the

Mon. 29 m 9:38 case on behalf of the owners. "Capt. Milla, a seaman of 48 years ex- Tues. 30 perience, stated that on the evening of March 14th be left the bridge in charge Wed. 31 of the second officer, Mr. Thatcher, an experienced officer, since he had been on Thur. the bridge for seven hours.

SEVERAL CAUSES FOR ACCIDENT.

Fri,

In reply to questions from counsel Satar he outlined in detail the circumstances of the stranding, as appear summarized in San the finding published below. The second officer, Mr.Thatcher, then told his story of the stranding, in reply to questions from counsel, and the second engineer, Mr. Charles S. Murray, who was on duty

HAMBURG AMERIKA LINIE at the time corroborated from the log the

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statement with regard to the stopping of the engines at 7.21 p.m.

After a recess of 10 minutes the Court. announced that it would not be necessary to call the Chinese witnesses unless the counsel so desired and, their testimony not being asked for, Capt Mills was re- called to the witness box and on enquiry stated that there were no instructions as to who should be on the bridge during that part of the voyage and that he had no doubt whatever as to the ability of the Second Officer.

THE FINDINU.

Counsel addressed the Court, which. afterwards adjourned and later the following finding and order were read: It appears from the evidence given before the Court that the str. Sunning sailed from Shanghai on or about 11 a.m: on March 14th, bound for Amoy and Hongkong. At about six o'clock, the Master, Captain George Daniel Stoker Milla, left the bridge in charge of the Second Officer, Mr. Walter Albert Thatcher, giving orders that he was to be called when Button Taland was sight- ed At about 6.21 p.m. he was told that) Button Island was sighted and he came on the bridge for about five minutes, and during these five minutes he altered the course to south 18 East and gave the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, orders to let him know when Button Island was three miles off and to inform him if the ship experienced any abnormal set. He also pointed out the land on the star- board bow. During the next next 40 minutes, the second officer's, Mr: That- cher's, attention was principally occupied with watching the movements and bear- ings of two approaching steamers, He finally fixed the ship's position at about p.m. by Gutzlaff and Benham Lightë, which were almoat in a straight line and very unreliable for Bring the ship's #1 position. The land on the starboard band had faded out of sight and could not be used as a check...

THE GROUNDING;

By this fix, be estimated Button Island to be three miles off, and after laying this position off on the chart, and look- ing at an approaching ship, be called the Master, Captain Milla The Master arrived on the bridge almost at once, and noticing that Button Island was very close, he immediately gave the order hard-a-port, but not in time to prevent the ship from grounding, after swidging, about eight points. Engines were then stopped and steps taken to safeguard life. After investigation. the ship was established that she could return, to Shanghai in safety under her own steam. She felt for Shanghai at 8.30 the next morning and arrived there at 8 p.m. March 15th, where the extent of the damage was ascertained to be several plates and frames damaged in the double bottom and No. 2 tank top set up."App" TheCourt having regard to the circumstances above stated finds as follows

That the accident was due to an error In judgment of speed on the part of the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, inasmuch as he estimated the speed of the ship at 12. knots over the ground, whereas in fact it was nearer 14 knots.

That on losing sight of the land on the starboard hand the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, failed to notify the Master as he should have done. A

That in view of the Becond Officer's, Mr. Thatcher's, thort experience of these waters he should have verified his estimated of speed by asking the master, Captain Mills,

That in view of the short experience of the Second Officer, Mr. Thatcher, in these waters and the dificulty Fol extabhaking the position by besting of lights alone, it would have been wiser for

Day Month

H'kong Standar

Time.

h. m.

Height,

"E'long, Standard Timo.

ft. in. h. i. ft. in

5333614

་པ

2

8 m

482 0

18

1

11.

6 2m

7

3 m

4. Dm 5 82

Jar 11 53

0·46

1 8 3 0 714 19 44m 8 208, 4 6 3 118,581 9

SINGAPORE DOCK. PROBLEM DISCUSSED IN SHIPPING

PAPER.

structing a Boating dock that it can ba towed anywhere It may be within the recollection of our readers that a Boating dock for the use of the American. Navy was towed from the United States The question of whether the floating to the Philippines, and many other Books have been safely towed across the ocean. deck which is to be constructed for the Why then, should we not be able to dự Singapore naval base should be assembled the same as other nations do! The fan- at Bingapore, or whether the present damental conditions of strategy are the Admiralty policy should be changed and same the world over, and we may quite the dock towed out complete from Home,ally state that there is no naval biicer is discussed in an authoritative article who would not welcome a dock sa uloso in the Shipbuilding and Shipbuilders as possible to the scene of operation... Gorette, a leading shipping paper, as Presumably Australia is one of our pes- follows:

sessions to be protected by the deat based Considerable interest attaches to the on Singapore. In Australia there is no, recent announcement that the Admiralty dock capable of taking a damaged capital are calling for tenders for a floating dock ship. This would mean, with this doat- to be placed at Singapore. This will being dick immiyably moored at Singa- welcome news, not only to the unemploy pore, that such a ship would have to ed labour in the shipbuilding trade, but make a voyage of something: Hke 2,000 to those who have the ultimate welfare miles before it could its damaged parts of the country at heart. There is attended to. It would certainly have to difference of opinion among those who put into some gort, to take in the re have really studied the subject that it quisite fuel for such a voyage, and at that would be quite impossible for this coun port should be found the floating dock, try to carry on a successful naval war in which had been towed there at the out the Far East with flesta based upon break of hostilitias duty arsenals in Great Britain, and we wel-

DOCK MUST ST-MOBILE! - come the addition to our naval resources in Eastern watera. That a naval base: There appears to be every reason fon- must be as close as possible to the seat of making the dock mobile, and no reason naval operations was well understood and is apparent to us for adopting the con- acted upon in the early days of the Great trary course. The extra cost of making. War. As far as possible, a Portsmouth the dock senworthy would be more than was created in the, north of Scotland, offset by the lower price at which it could Floating workshops, floating decks, store,be completed in this country, so that the ships, all the necessities for the wall nation would be reaping the benefit of being of a fleet, were assembled as close its alteration from a fixed to a much - as possible to the anticipated scene of more mobile dock at no cost at all to the naval activities. The German Admiralty taxpayer. There is another aspect of the adopted exactly the same course of action situation which at the present time would. on their side of the North Sea

appear to be of considerable importance, The installation of this dock at Singa The erection, riveting, and completion of pore is undoubtedly a step in the right the dock in this country would give enk direction, but we are much surprised to ployment to hundreds of men, whereas learn that this dock as designed cannot in Singapore such labour does not exist, be towed to its destination, but is to be in the requisite quantity, Surely the shipped out in pieces and riveted to- | need of our own workmen, who are sadly gether in Singapore. It is true that it in want of employment, should be taken is to be situated some 7,000 miles nearer into consideration by a great Government the scene of a suppositous scene of action department, the primary object of whose In a possible future war; but even so, it existence is the defence of Great Britain," may be found to be a very considerable but which narvertheless should be watch. distance from its most useful location, to ful of the wellbeing of the inhabitsats which as now arranged it could not be of this country as far as lies within its towed. There is no difficulty in con- | powers.

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