189430-1932-Finding-of-the-Marine-Court-of-Enquiry-to-enquire-into-the-circumstances-attending-the-collision-between-the-S-S-Tai-Lee-and-Yuet-On — Page 1

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 16, 1932. 1305

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Department.

No. 791.-The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry held on the 6th December, 1932, to enquire into the circumstances attending the collision between the British S.S. Tai Lee and the Chinese S.S. Yuet On, is published for general informa- tion.

19th December, 1932.

FINDING.

W. T. SOUTHORN,

Colonial Secretary.

"

We find that the S.S Tai Lee Official No. 133218 of Hong Kong of which Mr. John Mitchell (Certificate of Competency as Master No. 027529 of Dundee) was Master was proceeding on a voyage from Kongmoon to Hong Kong on the 18th November, 1932. After passing Ki Au Light she overhauled the Chinese S.S. Yuet On and at about 7.25 p.m., she attempted to pass to starboard of the Yuet On at a distance of between 2 or 3 hundred yards, the course of the Yuet On being S.E. The speed of the Yuct On was 10 knots and that of the Tai Lee about 11 knots.

We find that the Yuet On made no alteration of course to starboard and maintained her speed but that the Tai Lee having attained a position about 1 or 14 points before the starboard beam of the Yuet On altered-her course to port in order to cross ahead of the Yuet On and that at about 7.28 p.m. a collision became imminent. The Chief Officer of the Yuet On who was then in charge of the bridge caused the helm of the Yuet On to be put hard astarboard and the engines to full astern in order to avoid collision but that owing to the closeness at that time of the Tai Lee a drag was exerted on the bows of the Yuet On which caused her to refuse to answer her helm and dragged her bows 1 point to starboard thus bringing her into collision with the port quarter of the Tai Lee.

We find that the Master of the Tai Lee was at fault in that he attempted to cross the bows of the Yuct On before establishing a suflicient overlap and we therefore adjudge Mr. John Mitchell to be severely reprimanded.

Given under our hands at Victoria, in the Colony of Hong Kong, this 6th day of December, 1932.

(Signed)

G. F. HOLE,

Stipendiary Magistrate and President of the Court.

G. B. R. RUDYERD-HELPMAN,

Lieut.-Commdr., R.N., HI.M. Dockyard.

A. H. BROWN,

Master, British SS. Kwong Sai,

T. PRITCHARD,

11

Master, British S.S. Sui Tai.

་་

CH. F. MELLING,

Master, British S.S. Tantalus.