----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"LADY LEWIS" (S.S.).
FINDING and order of a Naval Court, held at the British
Consulate on the 14th day of April, 1906, at Buenos Aires,
to inquire into the circumstances attending the stranding of
the s.s. "LADY LEWIS," of Cardiff, O.N. 105189, when on a
voyage from Bahia Blanca to Barcelona, and to inquire into
the conduct of the master, certificated officers, and crew
of the said vessel.
It appears from the evidence given before the Court, that
the vessel sailed from Bahia Blanca at 6 a.m. on the 1st day
of April, 1906, bound on a voyage to Barcelona with a cargo
of grain, and that, at the time of such sailing, everything
aboard the vessel was in good order and condition.
That, at the time of such sailing, the draught of the vessel
was 21 ft. 2 ins. aft, and 21 ft. 6 ins. forward, and that
the cargo was stowed in accordance with the Board of Trade
regulations.
That the Bahia Blanca lightship was passed at 11.25 a.m. on
the same day, and a departure taken from it.
That everything passed off well until 4.5 p.m. on the 2nd
April, when the ship stranded on Point Mogotes Spit.
That a light S.E. breeze and swell, and fine clear weather
was prevailing at the time.
That, after stranding, the master did everything that was
possible under the circumstances for the safety of the crew
and the saving of the ship, and that no fault is found with
the conduct of the officers and crew subsequent to the
stranding.
That the master navigated the vessel in a very careless
manner.
That he sailed dangerously near the coast.
That he made no use whatever of the lead until after the
stranding.
That he relied upon four-point bearings only for
ascertaining his distance from the shore, which bearings,
under the circumstances, were inadequate in this case.
That, after the ship passed Andres Head, at a distance said
to be three-and-a-half miles, the master failed to take
precautions to avoid running on Mogotes Spit, the existence
of which was known to him.
That the master was navigating on a blue-back chart.
The Court, in pursuance of the powers vested in it by sec.
470 of 57 & 58 Vic., c. 60, therefore orders that the
certificate of the master, O.C. No. 018857, issued by the
Board of Trade, be suspended for three months, the
suspension to commence from this date.
The Court, whilst refraining from dealing with the
certificate of the mate, F. Foley, censures him for not
drawing the attention of the master to the close proximity
of the ship to Point Mogotes Spit, as he had just previous
to the stranding examined the chart.
The expenses of the Court, fixed at eleven pounds seventeen
shillings and sixpence, are approved.
Dated at Buenos Aires this 16th day of April, 1906.
El
capitán la sacó barata , 3 meses de suspensión ; y al
oficial de guardia un tirón de orejas.
La
audiencia en el consulado británico de Baires.
Que
par de troncos ! Aunque lo mas probable es que el Capi
estuviera durmiendo ; lo normal
en esa
costa a la madrugada , salvo que el tiempo se ponga bravo.
Saludos A.C.
|
