Wreck report for 'Newton Elm', 1932

FOR OFFICIAL USE

(No. 7890.)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

NAVIGATION ACT, 1912-1926.

STRANDING OF STEAMSHIP

"NEWTON ELM."

CHARGE AGAINST THE FIRST MATE.

The Court of Marine Inquiry held at Sydney on the 11th January, 1932, before John William Malcolm Laidlaw, Esquire, Chief Stipendiary Magistrate, assisted by Captains M. M. Osborne and R. G. Blayney, Assessors, delivered the following decision relative to the charge preferred against George Ferry Davidson, first mate of the steamship "Newton Elm," of failure of duty in matters relating to the navigation of the vessel as a result of which she became stranded near Point Korogoro, New South Wales, on the 19th December, 1931, and sustained damage to her hull.

Captain G. D. Williams, Deputy Director of Navigation, New South Wales, appeared for the Director of Navigation.

JOHN K. DAVIS,

Director of Navigation.

Melbourne, 15th January, 1932.

STATEMENT OF CASE.

The steamship "Newton Elm," Port of Registry. Newcastle. England, Official No. 148107, of 4.218 tons gross register, owned by John Ridley Son and Tully, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sidney Charles Tesseyman Toder, master, left Newcastle, New South Wales, on the 18th December, 1931, with a crew of 33 hands all told, on a voyage to Townsville, Queensland.

At about 2.40 a.m., on the 19th December, 1931, the vessel passed Tacking Point at a distance of about 5½ miles, and a course of N. 1° E. by standard compass was then set, to pass at a safe distance off Smoky Cape, compass error of 7° E. being allowed to make a true course of N. 8° E.

At 4 a.m. the first mate, George Ferry Davidson, who held a Board of Trade Certificate of Competency No. 006676 as master, steamships, issued at North Shields on the 13th May, 1919, took over watch, and was on watch in charge of the vessel until she became stranded.

Between 4.30 a.m. and 5 a.m. the weather became foggy, and at about 5.43 a.m. the vessel stranded on the beach a little to the south of Point Korogoro, and remained stranded until the 28th December, 1931, when she was re-floated and towed to Sydney for repairs, at which port she arrived on the 29th December, 1931, and on being docked it was found that she had sustained extensive damage to her hull as a result of the stranding.

COPY OF DECISION OF COURT.

In the Court of Marine Inquiry, Sydney, N.S.W.

In the Matter of an Inquiry as to a charge against George Ferry Davidson, first mate, of the steamship "Newton Elm," of failure of duty in matters relating to the navigation of the ship as a result of which she became stranded near Point Korogoro, New South Wales, on the 19th December, 1931, and sustained damage to her hull.

The Court, having carefully inquired as to the said charge:

Finds that the charge as laid has been sustained and suspends the Certificate of Competency of the first mate, George Ferry Davidson, for a period of six months, from the 19th December, 1931.

Dated this Eleventh day of January, 1932.

J. LAIDLAW,

Only Member of Court.

We concur in the above decision.

(Issued by the Board of Trade in London

on Friday, the 11th day of March, 1932.)

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1932.

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