540588-1905-Marine-Court-of-Inquiry--Finding-of-into-the-stranding-of-British-ship-Trarancore — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH JULY, 1905,

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 442.

1137

The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry into the stranding of the British Ship Travancore, is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th July, 1905.

FINDING.

F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.

We find that the British Ship Travancore, Official No. 99769 of Greenock, of which WILLIAM C. CHAMBERLIN is Master, the number of whose certificate is 019,184 and of which J. T. ROBERTS is Chief Mate, the number of whose certificate is 035,812, left Hongkong on the 31st May, 1905, bound for Port Angeles.

sea.

The Tray mcore is a sailing ship of 1,878 net register tons and was in ballast when she put to

That about 8 a.m. on the following day 1st June, the ship stranded on Fo Kai Point, was afloat for about of an hour on the evening of 2nd June and again taking the ground, remained there until 7.45 a m. on the 3rd June when she was towed off by the steam-tug Robert Cooke,

It appears from the evidence that when the Master came on deck at 7.10 a.m. on the 1st of June, the position of the ship in respect to Fo Kai Point allowed him the alternative, of weathering the Point by continuing on the same tack, or to put about. He decided on the latter course and that it should be carried into effect later on.

The Master then retired into his cabin, and after the lapse of half an hour during which time two reports were made to him by the Officer of the watch representing the necessity to go about, if the intention was persevered in, he came on deck, too late, to admit of the manœuvre, which he attempted. to be safely carried out and in consequence the ship stranded.

Having fully considered the evidence the Court is of opinion that the Travancore was not navigated with sufficient and seamanlike care, that the Master was absent from deck when the safety of the ship required his personal supervision, that the casualty was caused by mismanagement on his part, and that he displayed a lack of intelligence in the efforts he afterwards made to float the ship.

That the material damage to the ship was due to the above mentioned causes which they are of opinion amounts to a Wrongful Act or Default on the part of the Master, and they therefore direct that his Certificate be suspended for a period of 9 months from this date. The Court further directs 4hat a 1st Mate's Certificate be issued during the period of suspension if the Master so desires. The Court is further of opinion that the Chief Mate was also to blame in respect to the management of the ship immediately prior to her stranding, and in the lack of effort he displayed in afterwards trying to float her, which they are of opinion amounts to a Wrongful Act or Default on the part of the Chief Mate and they therefore direct that the Master's Certificate held by him be suspended for a period of 3 months from this date.

The Court learns from the evidence, with regret, that after the ship stranded, the crew generally appear to have taken an undue advantage of the position the Master was placed in by consulting their own safety rather than that of the ship, and that their behaviour as a whole left a good deal to be desired. The Court therefore directs that the members of the crew who brought the charges against the Master and 1st Mate bear the costs of this investigation so far as they relate to this Court.

The Court also learns from the evidence, with surprise, that the Master was expected by the ship's owners to provide the Charts used on behalf of the vessel at his own expense.

Given under our hands at Victoria, Hongkong, this 11th day of July, 1905.

L. BARNES-LAWRENCE, Captain, R.N.,

President.

C. K. McCALLUM, Lieutenant (N.) R.N.,

HENRY PYBUS, Commander, R.N.R.,

Master, British Steam-ship Empress of Japan.

ST. JOHN GEORGE,

Master, British Steam-ship Macquarie.

WILLIAM ROBB,

Master, British Steam-ship Taiping.