Marmora - wreck report

S.S. Marmora

This is an investigation into the circumstances attending the stranding of the S.S. "Marmora," of Hartlepool, on Huelva Bar, on the 12th of November 1885, held at the Town Hall, North Shields, on the 31st of December 1885, and the 2nd day of March 1886, before Thomas Jackson and John Robson, Esquires, two of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, assisted by Captains Curling and Hyde (Nautical Assessors). Mr. De Hamel appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade, Mr. Tilley, of Hartlepool, represented the owners, and Mr. W. O. Forster acted for the master. The "Marmora," official number 58,753, was a screw steamer built of iron in 1868 at Hartlepool, of the following dimensions:-Length 214 ft. 2, breadth, 28 ft. 2, and depth 14 ft. 2. She was schooner rigged, and fitted with two engines of 98 horse-power (combined), and was owned by Mr. Fritz Herskind, of Seaton Carew, near West Hartlepool, and several others, Mr. Herskind being appointed managing owner on the 13th of March 1885. From the evidence adduced it appears that the "Marmora" left Huelva on the 12th of November 1885, about 3 p.m., with a cargo of 1,000 tons of ore, having a crew of 20 hands all told, under the command of Charles Tornquist, who holds a certificate of competency, No. 89,587, drawing 17 feet 9 inches forward, and 17 feet 10 inches aft, and proceeded down the river in charge of a pilot, reaching the quarantine ground at 5 p.m., when the pilot left, as he stated he would not take the vessel further, the sea on the bar being dangerous. The master proceeded on, and after rounding the Black Buoy, which marked the approach to the bar, the vessel commenced to strike and after doing so two or three times she struck heavily, carrying away her rudder, and turned broadside on to the breakers, beating up on to the beach, where she ultimately became a total wreck, the crew leaving her in their boats, no lives being lost. The Court was adjourned for a month, and then again until the 2nd of March for the purpose of obtaining the pilot's evidence taken before the British Consul at Huelva. On the 2nd of March the Court reassembled, and the evidence of the pilot was produced and read to the Court by Mr. De Hamel. It appears that there were two pilots on different occasions discussing the question with the master of the propriety of his attempting to take the vessel over the bar in the then state of the weather. On the 11th of November, the day before she left, the first pilot, who had some conversation with the master, and he declined to take the vessel to sea unless the weather improved. On the morning of the 12th when the ship had finished her loading the second pilot who had just come in from sea offered to take the vessel to the quarantine ground, but not beyond as the bar was too dangerous to attempt to cross, and warned the master of the risk he was about to run who against the pilot's advice determined to proceed to sea. The master proceeded to the bar, the result being the total loss of the vessel.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the following questions were submitted to the Court on behalf of the Board of Trade:-

1. What was the cause of the stranding of the "Marmora" on Huelva Bar on the 12th November?

2. Whether the sea on the bar on the afternoon of the 12th November was such as to render it probable that the vessel could not pass over it in safety? Whether the master was acquainted with this circumstance, and if so whether he was justified in attempting to proceed to sea?

3. Whether in any event the master was justified in attempting to proceed to sea without a pilot, and particularly having regard to the fact that the pilot refused to take the vessel over the bar, and that the pilot boat was moored inside?

4. Whether having regard to the fact that the vessel had struck two or three times before reaching the bar, the master was justified in attempting to cross it?

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

In the opinion of the Board of Trade the certificate of the master should be dealt with.

Dated this 31st day of December 1885.

 

(Signed)

LANCEL DE HAMEL,

for the Board of Trade.

Judgment.

1. The stranding of the "Marmora" on Huelva Bar on the 12th of November 1885 was caused by the master proceeding to sea against the advice of the pilot.

2. The sea on Huelva Bar on the 12th of November 1885 was such as to render it probable that the steamship "Marmora" could not pass over it in safety.

3. Having regard to the condition of the sea the master should not have proceeded, particularly when the pilot refused to take the vessel over the bar or beyond the quarantine ground.

4. When the vessel struck two or three times immediately before reaching the bar, according to the master's evidence, he was then unable to bring up or return, and had no alternative but to proceed to sea; the Court however does not consider this to be sufficiently clear.

5. After the warning received from the pilot the vessel was not navigated with proper and seamanlike care.

The Court finds the master, Charles Tornquist, in default, and suspends his certificate, No. 89,587, for a period of four calendar months from the date hereof.

(Signed)

THOMAS JACKSON

Justices.

JOHN ROBSON,

We concur in the above judgment.

(Signed)

WILLM. CURLING,

R.N.R.,

Assessor.

GEORGE HYDE,

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