Wreck Report for 'Ark', 1881

(No. 1224.)

"ARK."

REPORT of an Inquiry held at Port Adelaide into the foundering of the ketch "ARK," of that Port.

An Inquiry was held before Captain R. H. Ferguson, S.M., President, Captains J. W. Smith and A. McCoy, and J. Formby, Esquire, Wardens of the Marine Board of South Australia, on Monday, 21st November 1881, into the circumstances connected with the foundering, near Dangerous Reef, Spencer Gulf, on the 11th instant, of the ketch "Ark," of Port Adelaide, official number 64,223, 44 tons register, William Smith, holding a South Australian certificate of competency, number 128, master.

This vessel was bound from Port Germein to Port Adelaide with a cargo of 540 bags of wheat. When off Althorpe Island her rudder-head was carried away, which rendered her unmanageable. She drifted to within half a mile of Dangerous Reef, and there foundered in thirteen fathoms of water. The cargo was insured, but not the vessel.

The finding of the Board was as follows:—

The Board is of opinion that the loss of the "Ark" was occasioned by the carrying away of the iron-work of the tiller. It was afterwards found (when trying to secure the rudder-head) that the woodwork was not sufficiently strong to bear the strain of the chain lashing, and, through the breaking of the rudder below the deck, the crew were unable to work the vessel. The broken rudder started the sternpost, which caused so much leakage that the pumps could not keep the vessel free.

The Board is of opinion that, under the circumstances, the abandonment was justifiable, also that no blame can be attributed to the master, who appears to have done everything in his power to save the vessel.

THOS. N. STEPHENS, Secretary, Marine Board.

Marine Board Offices, Port Adelaide, 22nd November 1881.

L 367. 994. 80.—1/82. Wt. 203. E. & S.