| Unique ID: | 14644 | | Description: | Board of Trade Wreck Report for 'Alicia' and 'Bucentaur', 1881 | | Creator: | Board of Trade | | Date: | 1881 | | Copyright: | Out of copyright | | Partner: | SCC Libraries | | Partner ID: | Unknown |
Transcription
(No. 1084.)
"ALICIA" AND "BUCENTAUR" (S.S.)
The Merchant Shipping Acts, 1854 to 1876.
IN the matter of a formal Investigation held at the Guildhall, Bristol, on the 23rd and 25th days of August 1881, before CHARLES NASH and JOHN LYSAGHT, Esquires, two of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace acting in and for the City and County of Bristol, assisted by Captain H. D. BURNEY, of the Royal Navy, as one Nautical Assessor, and Captain WILLIAM CURLING, R.N.R., and Captain H. J. KENNEDY, two other Nautical Assessors, having experience in the merchant service, into the circumstances attending the loss of the British sailing ship "ALICIA," of Aberystwith, through collision with the British steamship "BUCENTAUR," of Newcastle-on-Tyne, off the Lizard, on the 6th day of May last, whereby loss of life ensued.
Report of Court.
The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances attending the above-mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons stated in the annex hereto, that the said collision was due to the "Bucentaur," which was an overtaking steamship, not having kept out of the way of the schooner "Alicia," which was the overtaken sailing ship, contrary to the Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea, and that Edwin Knowles, the chief officer of the "Bucentaur," who was in charge of that vessel at the time, is to blame for the casualty. For his wrongful act and default the Court suspends the certificate of the said Edwin Knowles for one year from this date.
The Court makes no order as to costs.
Dated this 25th day of August 1881.
(Signed)
CHARLES NASH,
Justices.
JOHN LYSAGHT,
We concur in the above report.
(Signed)
HENRY D. BURNEY, R.N., J.P.,
WILLIAM CURLING, R.N.R.,
Assessors.
H. C. KENNEDY,
Annex to the Report.
This case was heard at Bristol on the 23rd and 25th days of August instant, when Mr. Norris appeared as counsel for the Board of Trade; Mr. J. P. Aspinall, counsel for the owners and master of the steamer "Bucentaur"; Mr. J. G. Vachell, solicitor for the owners and master of the schooner "Alicia," and Mr. Clifton for the chief officer of the "Bucentaur."
Eight witnesses having been produced and examined, Mr. Norris handed in a statement of the 8 questions appended to this annex, upon which the Board of Trade desired the opinion of the Court.
Mr. Vachell, Mr. Aspinall, and Mr. Clifton then addressed the Court on behalf of their respective parties, and Mr. Norris having replied for the Board of Trade, the Court proceeded to give judgment upon the questions on which its opinion had been asked.
The case of the "Alicia" is as follows:—She was a schooner, built at Aberayron, of wood, in 1862, 96 tons register, official No. 47627, and registered at the port of Aberystwith, in Wales. She was commanded by David Jenkins, of that port, who was also part owner. She sailed from Barking, in the river Thames, on the 28th of April, at 4 a.m., with a cargo of cement, bound for Limerick, having a crew of 5 hands all told. Proceeding on her voyage down the river, she anchored in the Downs on the 29th. On the 30th, at 4 p.m., she weighed, and brought up again off Dover. On the 2nd May, being at anchor off Dungeness, the wind being S.E., she weighed and made sail, and proceeded on her voyage.
On the morning of the 6th of May, at about 7.50 a.m., being then 3 to 4 miles off the Lizard, the wind being S.W., she was put on the port tack, close hauled, and heading about N.W. by W. under all plain sail, excepting flying jib and gaff topsail, the weather being fine and clear.
About 9.30 a.m., the master being then at the helm, the look-out man reported to him a steamer standing towards them about 1 1/2 miles off, and on the starboard or lee quarter. The master paid no further attention to her, knowing it was the steamer's duty to keep clear of him. Shortly afterwards the same look-out man reported the steamer as being very close to them, and that he thought she would run them down. At this time the steamer was about her own length from the schooner.
The master of the "Alicia" stated in his evidence that, seeing a collision was imminent, he put his helm hard to starboard, in hopes of easing the blow; on this point the evidence was conflicting. The vessels immediately came into contact, the steamer striking the "Alicia" with great violence on her starboard side with her stem just before the main rigging, cutting right into her to the main hatchway, and causing her to sink in a few minutes, the engines still being at full speed ahead. The crew were immediately precipitated in the water, a boy named Alfred Giles was, unfortunately, drowned. The master was hauled over the steamer's bows by a rope, and the rest of the crew were rescued by a boat from the steamer, and were, together with the captain, landed at Cardiff the following day.
The "Bucentaur" is an iron screw steamer, built at Jarrow in 1875, her net registered tonnage being 1176.10, and her engines of 150 horse-power combined, her managing owner being Mr. John Hall, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.
She was commanded by Mr. Thomas Hunter, who holds a certificate of competency, No. 29,096, her chief officer being Mr. Edwin Knowles, who also held a master's certificate of competency, dated 26th November 1875, No. 7,988.
The "Bucentaur" left London on the 4th of May in water ballast, bound for Cardiff, her draft of water being, aft, 12 feet 6 inches; forward, 10 feet 6 inches.
According to the master's statement all went well up to the morning of May 6th, when, at about 8 a.m., the vessel being then off the Lizard, the chief officer took charge of the deck. About 9.40 a.m., the Lizard bearing E.N.E., 3 or 4 miles distant, the master left the bridge and went below; but before doing so he called the attention of the chief officer to a schooner about 1 1/2 miles off, and bearing 3 to 4 points on the port bow, standing close hauled on the port tack, telling him to "look out for her."
The steamer at that time steering a W.N.W. course, going full speed, and at a speed of 8 knots per hour.
From the statement of the chief officer the steamer was in about 10 minutes in close proximity to the schooner, or from 200 to 300 yards off, the latter being still on their port bow, when (as he stated) he saw the "Alicia" suddenly port her helm to cross her bows. Seeing a collision was imminent he ordered the steamer's helm hard to port, himself assisting the man at the wheel.
The vessels were immediately in collision; the concussion brought the master on deck instantly. He, the master, at once telegraphed the engines to be stopped, they having until then been kept going at "full speed."
The schooner was then right across the steamer's bow and sank at once.
The master of the "Bucentaur" instantly lowered a boat and rescued three of the crew; but nothing was seen of the boy Giles, who must have gone down with the schooner. At 10.35 a.m. the steamer proceeded on her voyage, and arrived at Cardiff on the 7th of May last.
The Court considered that Mr. Edwin Knowles, the chief officer of the steamer, was entirely in default, he having broken the 17th, 18th, and 20th articles of the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and decided that his certificate of competency should be suspended for one year.
Dated this 25th day of August 1881.
(Signed)
CHARLES NASH,
Justices.
JOHN LYSAGHT,
We concur in the above report.
(Signed)
HENRY D. BURNEY, R.N., J.P.,
WILLIAM CURLING, R.N.R.,
Assessors.
H. C. KENNEDY,
THE "ALICIA" AND THE "BUCENTAUR."
Questions submitted to the Court on the part of the Board of Trade:—
Q. 1. Whether or not the collision and loss of life were attributable to any neglect or default on the part of the captain of the "Bucentaur," or the chief officer of the "Bucentaur," or the captain of the "Alicia," or any or either of them?
A. The captain of the "Bucentaur" and the captain of the "Alicia" are free from blame; but the chief officer of the "Bucentaur" is to blame.
Q. 2. Whether or not either or both vessels complied with the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea?
A. The schooner complied, but the steamer did not.
Q. 3. Whether or not a good and proper look-out was kept on board the "Bucentaur"?
A. The mate was in charge, and was looking out.
Q. 4. Whether or not a good and proper look-out was kept on board the "Alicia"?
A. There was a good look-out.
Q. 5. Whether or not every possible effort was made by those in charge of the "Bucentaur" to keep out of the way of the "Alicia," as required by articles 17, and 20 of the said regulations?
A. Certainly not.
Q. 6. Whether or not the "Alicia" kept her co?? as required by article 22 of the said regulations?
A. The "Alicia" kept her course up to the time the collision becoming imminent; but as to w?? took place at that exact time the evidence?? conflicting.
Q. 7. Whether or not after the collision every po??ble effort was made to save life?
A. Yes.
Q. 8. Whether or not the master of the "Alicia and the master and chief officer of the "Bucentaur" are or either of them is in default?
A. The master of the "Alicia" was not in defa?? The master of the "Bucentaur" was not default. The chief officer of the "Bucentaur" was in default.
(Signed)
CHARLES NASH,
Justices.
JOHN LYSAGHT,
We concur in the above answers.
(Signed)
HENRY D. BURNEY, R.N., J.P.,
WILLIAM CURLING, R.N.R.,
Assessors.
H. C. KENNEDY,
L 367. 854. 150.—8/81. Wt. 203. E. & S.
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