FOR OFFICIAL USE.
(No. 7845.)
"CHRISTINA ERASER" (S.S.).
NEW SOUTH WALES NAVIGATION ACT, 1901.
IN THE COURT OF MARINE INQUIRY
AT SYDNEY. | No. 3 of 1927 |
DECISION OF THE COURT.
In the matter of a Formal Inquiry held at Sydney before His
Honour Judge Cohen, assisted by Captain Charles Victor Wood and Mr.
Marcus Mingay Osborne, Assessors, into the circumstances attending
the stranding of the British ship "Christina Fraser," on Jibbon
Bumbora, on the 7th March, 1927.
The Court having carefully inquired into the circumstances
attending the above-mentioned shipping casualty comes to the
decision following:-
1. The British ship "Christina Fraser," official number 152012,
stranded on Jibbon Bumbora on the 7th March, 1927, whilst on a
voyage from Sydney to Bulli, and serious damage was caused to the
vessel.
2. The "Christina Fraser" was well found and provided with the
necessary life-saving appliances.
3. There was a strong S.S.E. wind, the sea was rough with a
heavy swell, and there were heavy rain squalls. The visibility was
poor.
4. The Court finds that there was negligent navi gation both on
the part of the master and the mate.
5. The Court considers that the master should have satisfied
himself of his position off Macquarie Light before handing the
vessel over to the mate, and should under the conditions have kept
himself cognisant of the position of the vessel during the
voyage.
6. The Court considers that the mate was negligent in not
calling the master when he saw the conditions off Botany Heads, and
that he himself took no steps to find out the exact position of the
ship. The Court also considers that in altering the course he did
not make proper allowance for the state of the weather.
The Court orders that the certificates of competency of the said
Peter John Petersen as Master of a Coast Trade Ship, No. 629, dated
18th June 1885, issued by the Marine Board of N.S.W., and of the
said William Keir, as First Mate of a Foreign-going Steamship, No.
0014310, dated 24th October, 1924, and issued by the Board of
Trade, Southampton, be suspended for a period of two months from
the date of the stranding, 7th March, 1927.
Dated at Sydney this 29th day of April, 1927.
JOHN J. COHEN, Judge.
(Issued by the Board of Trade in London
on Friday, the 8th day of July, 1927.)
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