In 1983 a forum was convened by Malcolm Barker to explore details of the Koombana disaster. During the course of presentations Mr. Barker drew attention to a report which appeared in the "Hedland Advocate", 6 April, 1912.
It claimed that Koombana left Port Hedland, 10.30 a.m. 20 March, followed by the Bullarra, one hour later (11.30 a.m.).
The Inquiry alleged that Koombana left Port Hedland roughly 10.20 a.m. and Bullarra followed 20 minutes later; Captain Upjohn being within visual distance to comment on Koombana's performance crossing the bar into open sea.
Which of the two reports is more likely to be true?
The above image illustrates Bullarra and Koombana midday, 20 March, according to a cattleman eating his midday meal on deck. The two vessels were 5 miles apart, stern on to each other, 3 miles offshore.
If Bullarra had followed an hour later, 11.30 a.m., within half an hour she could only have achieved a maximum of 3 miles - negotiating exiting the port; aiming for a starting point 3 miles offshore before ultimately setting a course heading SW, for Balla Balla.
This scenario is highly unlikely given the cattleman's account.
Bert Clarke, who was tasked to give the signals from a tower near the entrance to Port Hedland, watched Koombana for two hours. He alleged that she rolled and pitched and seemed to be in difficulty from the outset.
It took in excess of two hours to attempt filling all tanks. Captain Upjohn, at the Inquiry, quoted that it could take 3 to 3 1/2 hours to fill just two tanks, in a port setting!!
There is an opinion that Bert Clarke was misguided in his assessment and what he actually witnessed was Koombana heading a little east of north, 'sagging off' but making significant progress while filling tanks.
For the two steamers to have been stern on to each other, midday, 5 miles distant, implies that Koombana's heading was actually NE, and NOT slightly east of north (Bullarra heading southwest). If Koombana had made gradual progress during the course of one and a half hours, she would logically have been at least 4 miles further to the northward by midday, a total of 7 miles from Port Hedland.
If we are to carry this logic through, it implies that Bullarra only covered about 3 miles by midday and the two vessels relative to one another were NOT stern on to each other, but rather, Koombana on the former's starboard quarter, in order to achieve the 5 miles separation distance.
Tackling this conundrum from another more practical point of view, it would have been ill-advised in a ground swell from the northwest and a half gale from the NE to attempt filling tanks while making progress.
It makes far more sense (witnessed by Bert Clarke) that Koombana was roughly stationary 3 miles out, bow into the gale, while attempting to fill tanks.
Captain Allen gave the game away in his words by suggesting that he did not think it likely they would make the noon spring tide at Broome the following day. In addition to anticipating a slower cruising speed given conditions, he knew that it could take 3 to 3 1/2 hours to fill tanks, making NO progress!
Reference:
Koombana Days, Annie Boyd.
Malcolm Barker Forum transcript, 1983
courtesy Google Earth.
It claimed that Koombana left Port Hedland, 10.30 a.m. 20 March, followed by the Bullarra, one hour later (11.30 a.m.).
The Inquiry alleged that Koombana left Port Hedland roughly 10.20 a.m. and Bullarra followed 20 minutes later; Captain Upjohn being within visual distance to comment on Koombana's performance crossing the bar into open sea.
Which of the two reports is more likely to be true?
The above image illustrates Bullarra and Koombana midday, 20 March, according to a cattleman eating his midday meal on deck. The two vessels were 5 miles apart, stern on to each other, 3 miles offshore.
If Bullarra had followed an hour later, 11.30 a.m., within half an hour she could only have achieved a maximum of 3 miles - negotiating exiting the port; aiming for a starting point 3 miles offshore before ultimately setting a course heading SW, for Balla Balla.
This scenario is highly unlikely given the cattleman's account.
Bert Clarke, who was tasked to give the signals from a tower near the entrance to Port Hedland, watched Koombana for two hours. He alleged that she rolled and pitched and seemed to be in difficulty from the outset.
It took in excess of two hours to attempt filling all tanks. Captain Upjohn, at the Inquiry, quoted that it could take 3 to 3 1/2 hours to fill just two tanks, in a port setting!!
There is an opinion that Bert Clarke was misguided in his assessment and what he actually witnessed was Koombana heading a little east of north, 'sagging off' but making significant progress while filling tanks.
For the two steamers to have been stern on to each other, midday, 5 miles distant, implies that Koombana's heading was actually NE, and NOT slightly east of north (Bullarra heading southwest). If Koombana had made gradual progress during the course of one and a half hours, she would logically have been at least 4 miles further to the northward by midday, a total of 7 miles from Port Hedland.
If we are to carry this logic through, it implies that Bullarra only covered about 3 miles by midday and the two vessels relative to one another were NOT stern on to each other, but rather, Koombana on the former's starboard quarter, in order to achieve the 5 miles separation distance.
Tackling this conundrum from another more practical point of view, it would have been ill-advised in a ground swell from the northwest and a half gale from the NE to attempt filling tanks while making progress.
It makes far more sense (witnessed by Bert Clarke) that Koombana was roughly stationary 3 miles out, bow into the gale, while attempting to fill tanks.
Captain Allen gave the game away in his words by suggesting that he did not think it likely they would make the noon spring tide at Broome the following day. In addition to anticipating a slower cruising speed given conditions, he knew that it could take 3 to 3 1/2 hours to fill tanks, making NO progress!
Reference:
Koombana Days, Annie Boyd.
Malcolm Barker Forum transcript, 1983
courtesy Google Earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment