Wreck Report for 'Lady Bowen', 1881

CROPPED ORIGINAL

(No. 1093.)

"LADY BOWEN" (SS.)

REPORT and Decision of the Marine Board upon the circumstances attending the grounding of the steamer "LADY BOWEN" in the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River.

The Board having heard the evidence of the master, Thomas Devencorn, quartermaster, assistant - pilot Markham, and Messrs. R. B. Sheridan and J. H. Cherry, passengers, and Mr. Carl Satini, master of the schooner "Ceara," find that the "Lady Bowen," a paddle steamer of 500 tons, belonging to the A.S.N. Company, William Cottier, master, left the Company's wharf in Brisbane on the 6th May at 2 p.m., and proceeded down the river on her passage to Maryborough. When off Bulimba Point she was stopped to take on board a few bags of oysters, and again proceeded down the river. The master then found it necessary to leave the bridge to go to his cabin, the quartermaster, Deven-corn—who had been some eight years in that capacity—being at the wheel. The chief officer was at the time engaged collecting tickets from the passengers. On the master's return to the bridge, after an absence of some two or three minutes, he saw the helm being put to starboard by Mr. Markham, the assistant sea-pilot, the quartermaster having left the wheel, at the request of the pilot, whom he thought was looking out for the vessel during the master's absence. The master at once ordered the engines to be stopped, and the helm to be shifted, but the port bow of the vessel took the ground on the north side of the river, and injured one or more of her plates. The engines were reversed, and she immediately came off, and again proceeded on her course; but finding she was making water in the fore compartment, she was grounded on a bank, to ascertain the amount of damage received. As this was found to be impracticable, the vessel returned to Brisbane, where her cargo and passengers were transferred to another vessel.

Captain Cottier has been some twenty-one years in command of A.S.N. Co.'s steamers in Queensland waters, and has made from 400 to 500 trips between Brisbane and the northern ports without accident.

By the 3rd clause of the Harbour Regulations for the "safety and prevention of accidents," "Steamers at all times when under weigh in any river, and among shipping, must have a responsible person on the bridge to look out." The Board consider, therefore, that Captain Cottier, in leaving the bridge without such a person to look out, was to this extent in error; at the same time they remember his long and excellent services on this coast, and the peculiar circumstances of the present case. They consider also the quartermaster had no business to give up the wheel to any person during the absence of the master from the bridge, or without his knowledge, as thereby he took upon himself, practically, to give over the navigation of the vessel to other hands.

The assistant-pilot, who took the wheel from the quartermaster, was not on duty, but merely taking a passage down to the Pilot Station. Though neither the master nor the man at the wheel considered that the assistant - pilot was under the influence of liquor, Mr. Sheridan, the Sub-Collector and Harbour Master at Maryborough, noticed that he was not sober; and, indeed, unless such was the case, the Board would be at a loss to account for his extraordinary conduct and gross carelessness.

The accident to the "Lady Bowen" was directly caused by the assistant-pilot alone, and the Board trust that the Government will suitably mark their sense of his conduct. At the same time, they would point out that Mr. Markham has been six years in the pilot service, and until this accident has borne an excellent character, and has been an efficient pilot.

 

(Signed)

G. P. HEATH, Commander R.N., Chairman.

Marine Board Office, Brisbane, 10th May 1881.

?? Wt. 202. E. & S.