The Mercury Newspaper:-Saturday 22 May 1920
TILE WÀINUI-'MONGANA COLLISION.
DECISION OF THE COURT.
BOTH THE MASTERS AT FAULT.
The following report was issued yesterday by the Marine Court of Inquiry, which consisted of Mr. W. 0. Wise (Police Magistrate) and Captans Harold Ireland and W. H. T. Brown (Nautical Assessor), with regard to the cause of the collision between the 'S.S. Wainui' and the 'S.S. Mongona' at the month ot the D'Entrecasteaux Channel on March 16. The evidence disclosed that the 'S.S.. Mongona' (Hugh Herbert Price-, master') was on a voyage, from Hobart to Port Cygnet. and called at the pilot station to land a passenger, and then Proceeded towards the jetty at Denne's Point, on the other ride of D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The 'S.S. Wainui' (William Mitchell Johnstone, Master) was on a voyage from Hobart to Strahan, and entered the channel as the 'S.S. Mongana' was leaving the pilot station. The 'S.S. Mongana' left the
pilot station at half-speed, and became a crossing vessel within the meaning of Article 19 of the sailing rules, but the master stated in his evidence that, he did not intend to cross the bow of the Wainui. The 'S.S. Wainui', on coming into the channel and sighting the 'S.S. Mongana', also became a crossing vessel, and having the 'S.S.Mongana' on her starboard side, it was the duty of the master of the Wainui to keep his vessel out of the way. In the subsequent movements of 'the vessels', as disclosed by the evidence, no indication of any alteration of speed or course was given by either vessel as required by article 28. When the vessels come in sight of each other, they were three quarters of a mile apart, and had the 'S.S. Wainui' properly complied with article 23, and the 'S.S. Mongana' strictly complied with article 21, the casualty would never have occurred. The Court is of opinion that the master of each vessel was at fault, but when a collision was inevitable between the two vessels, both masters took the best course possible to avoid a serious disaster. The Court refrains from dealing with the certificates of the masters, but censures them for not complying with the sailing regulations, and orders them each to pay the sum of £.3 5a. towards the cost of the inquiry.