Wreck Report for 'Ceylon', 1888

(No. 3696.)

"CEYLON."

The Merchant Shipping Acts, 1854 to 1876.

IN the matter of a formal Investigation held at the Lecture Hall, Greenwich, on the 22nd and 31st days of December 1888, before R. H. B. MARSHAM, Esquire, assisted by Captains PARFITT and BROOKS, into the circumstances attending the stranding of the British sailing ship "CEYLON," of Windsor, N.S., on Winterton Ridge, North Sea, on the 29th November last.

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 cause of the casualty was that the master, Mr. John Owen, stood on to pass between Winterton Ridge and Smith's Knoll, without verifying his position by cross bearings of the lights in sight, or by sufficiently using the lead.

The Court therefore finds the master in default; and that serious damage to such vessel was caused by his default; and suspends his certificate for 3 months, but recommends him for a mate's certificate in the meantime.

Dated this fourth day of January 1889.

 

(Signed)

R. H. B. MARSHAM, Judge.

We concur in the above report.

 

(Signed)

WM. PARFITT,

EDWD. BROOKS,

Assessors.

Annex to the Report.

This case was heard at Greenwich on the 22nd and 31st days of December 1889, when Mr. M'Connell appeared for the Board of Trade, the owner and master of the ship being also represented by counsel.

The "Ceylon" was a wooden sailing vessel, official number 66,519, built at Newport, in Hants county, in 1883, and registered at Windsor, in Nova Scotia, in the same year. She is rigged as a ship, and her registered tonnage was 943.97 tons. She was owned by Mr. Frederick Curry and others.

On 20th November last the "Ceylon" left Sunderland, Durham, bound for Rio Janiero, with a cargo of 1,471 tons of coal and coke, her draught of water being 21.3 ft. aft and 21 ft. forward. Her crew consisted of 13 hands all told, of whom Mr. John Owen was master, and who holds a certificate of competency as master.

On leaving Sunderland she experienced a moderate westerly gale, which subsequently increased when she lay to under two lower topsails until the 22nd of November. After passing Scarborough about noon on the 23rd, she was off Flamborough Head at 4 p.m. on 24th, 10 miles distant. A course was then set S. by E. 1/2 E. It was blowing hard from the S.W., and the lead was hove every 2 or 3 hours. After sighting the Outer Dowsing about 10.30 p.m., the wind drew ahead strong, and the vessel was hove to for some hours, when the wind moderating sufficiently, the vessel kept working to windward, sighting several lights meanwhile, until 6.30 p.m. of the 29th of November, at which time Smith's Knoll Light was observed to bear S.E., estimated at 5 or 6 miles distant. The vessel was then on the port tack, and the wind was gradually veering to the eastward, until she was heading S. by E. 1/2 E. at 7.30 p.m. Hasborough Light was sighted and said to bear W.S.W., and at 8.30 p.m. Winterton Light was also said to bear W.S.W. She continued going S. by E. 1/2 E. at a rate of 4 to 5 knots until 10 p.m., when a cast of the lead was taken in 17 fathoms. At 11.30 p.m. she struck the ground, it being dead low water at that time. Cross bearings of the lights had not been taken, and the bearings as given above do not appear to agree with what must have been the position of the vessel at the time.

The vessel began to make water rapidly; the rudder was unshipped, and the crew were engaged at the pumps. In about 2 hours she floated with the flood tide, but was quite unmanageable, and had 6 feet of water in her hold. She drifted about all night, and at 9 a.m. on the 30th, when between Corton Light and Cross Sands Light a steam trawler came to her assistance. About 11 o'clock she was anchored, and at 4 p.m. two steam tugs came with ten men who assisted in pumping. She was then taken in tow of the tugs to Yarmouth Roads, and there anchored. The next day more men arrived, and with their help the water was kept down, and she was eventually taken to Harwich, where the rudder was re-shipped; whence she was towed to London, where she now lies undergoing repairs.

From the master's statement, the place where the vessel stranded was on the south-east end of Winterton Ridge; and the Court is of opinion that she there sustained material damage.

These were the facts of the case, and on the conclusion of the evidence Mr. McConnell put to the Court the following questions:-

1. Whether a safe and proper course was set and steered at or about 4 p.m. on the 23rd November last, and whether due and proper allowance was made for tide, currents, and leeway?

2. Whether safe and proper alterations were made in the course from time to time thereafter, and whether due and proper allowance was made for tide, currents, and leeway?

3. Whether proper measures were taken from time to time to ascertain and verify the position of the vessel?

4. Whether the lead was used with sufficient frequency?

5. Whether a good and proper look-out was kept?

6. Where did the vessel strand, and what was the cause of the casualty?

7. Whether the vessel was navigated with proper and seamanlike care?

8. Whether the master and mate are, or either of them is, in default?

And stated that the Board of Trade were of opinion that the master's certificate should be dealt with.

Counsel then addressed the Court for the master. Mr. McConnell spoke in reply, and the Court gave judgment as follows:-

1. A safe and proper course was set and steered about 4 p.m. of the 23rd of November, and proper allowance was made for tides, currents, and leeway.

2. Safe and proper alterations were made in the courses from time to time up to 6.30 p.m. of the 29th, when Smith's Knoll Light was observed to bear S.E., estimated between five or six miles distant, and no subsequent alteration was made. Proper allowance up to that time was made for tides, currents, and leeway.

3 and 4. After 6.30 p.m. the vessel was heading S. by E. 1/2 E., going about four to five knots, and at 7.30 p.m. Hasborough Light was sighted, bearing about W.S.W., and at 8.30 p.m. Winterton Light W.S.W. Had cross bearings been then taken of these lights and Smith's Knoll Light, which was also in sight, the ship's position would have been accurately determined. This was not done, and the only sounding taken was at 10 p.m. Proper measures were not taken to ascertain and verify the position of the vessel, and the lead was not used with sufficient frequency.

5. A good and proper look-out appears to have been kept.

6. The vessel stranded on the east side of Winterton Ridge. The cause of the casualty was that the master stood on to pass between Winterton Ridge and Smith's Knoll without verifying his position by cross-bearings of the lights in sight, or by sufficiently using the lead.

7. The vessel was not navigated with proper and seamanlike care.

8. The master alone is in default.

The Court suspends the master's certificate for three months, and recommends him for a mate's certificate in the meantime.

 

(Signed)

R. H. B. MARSHAM, Judge.

We concur.

 

(Signed)

WM. PARFITT,

EDWD. BROOKS,

Assessors.

54010-212. 180.-1/89. Wt. 23. E. & S.