The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-03
DOUBLE BREACH OF
THE MARITIME
RULES
MAN CRUISER DID NOT OBSERVE
THE LAW OF THE sEA-EXCITE-
MENT ON THE FRONT.

Island captains are discussing
double breach of the maritime laws
committed by the German cruiser Cor
moran yesterday afternoon as she was
entering the harbor. In fact, the mas
ters think that the Cormoran was guilty
OF quite a serious omission. She failed
to answer the signals of two tugs which
were towing out of the harbor at the
time and as a result, there was not
little excitement along the Front as the
various craft passed each other.
The first breach of the rules occurred
just makai of the lighthouse. The
cruiser was in the fairway while the
tug was approaching on the right hand
side of the channel, towing the gar
bage scows. Captain McAllster of the
Eleu decided to follow Article Is Rule l
of rules to prevent collisions of vessels.
He gave one toot of his whistle which
signified that he wanted to pass the
port side of the cruiser or, in other
words on the right hand side of the
channel Although the rule which gov
erns vessels in this situation provides
that an answer shall be given to the
signal, absolutely no answer was given
by the Cormoran. The cruiser was in
the fairway. There was ample room in
which the .Eleu could pass as McAllister
had signalled he would do, so both ves-
sells kept their course and no trouble
ensued.
Immediately behind the Eleu was the
tug Fearless towing the barkentine
James Johnston. The Fearless was on
the left side of the harbor. Captain Oh
sen saw that he would not be able to
pass the port side of the Cormoran so
he decided to remain where he was and
not alter his course. He gave two toOts
of his whistle. This signal indicated
that the tug intended passing the star
Ino op1 cir ng thn fgnr lA1tf On 90
port side of the harbor. According to
the rules, the cruiser should have an
Swered this signal but she failed to do
so. AS in the case of the Eleu, the Cor
moran was mute and continued on her
course along the fairway.
Captain Olsen was not certain exact
ly what the German vessel proposed
to do, so he repeated the signal several
times. Many people thought the Fear
less was saluting the German cruiser.
No attention whatever was paid to the
volley of signals, so, in order to take
special precautions against the possi-
bility of being run down by the cruiser
the tug had to take extra risks by
hugging the left hand side of the har-
Dor. This necessitated the Fearless
making a sharp turn this side of the
light house in order to head out to sea.
No damage resulted however and the
vessels passed safely.
The particular part of the American
maritime laws that seems to apply to
the present case is article IS rule 1 of
the rules to prevent collisions. 1t reads
as follows:
when steam vessels are approaching
each other head and head, that is, end
on, or nearly so, it shall be the duty of
each to pass on the port side of the
other; and either vessel shall give, as a
signal of her intention, one short and
distinct blast of her whistle, which the
other vessel shall answer promptly by
a similar blast of her whistle, and
thereupon such vessels shall pass on the
port side of each other. But if the
courses of such vessels are so far on the
starhOard of each other as not to be
considered as meeting head and head,
either vessel shall Immediately give two
short and distinct blasts of her whistle,
which the other vessel shall answer
promptly by two similar blasts of her
whistle, and they shall pass on the star
board side of each other"
The local captains think that the Cor
moran should have answered the sig
mails of the two tugs. By failing to do
so considerable confusion occurred. The
rules call for such answer and they
should be followed, it is declared. The
harbor channel is very narrow at best
and when three vessel are passing al
the same time as occurred yesterday
special precautions against collision
should be taken, the captain argue.