STABILITY - MARINE INQUIRY.

The " Yongala " was a steel screw steamer of 3,664 tons gross and 1,825 net; length, 350 feet; breadth, 45·2 feet; depth (of hold), 27·2 feet; built under special survey in 1903 by Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, from specifications supplied by the Adelaide Steamship Company. Mr. Adamson, the company's superintendent engineer, supervised her building, and gave in evidence that the that the specifications provided that:

"After the vessel is completed, her centre of gravity is to be ascertained experimentally by inclining her, and curves of stability are to be calculated up to 90 degrees inclination at intervals of not more than 10 degrees and for five different conditions of loading, to be specified by the company". "Complete diagrams of results are to be prepared and supplied to the company". "The inclining experiments are to be performed at the expense of the builders", "and in the presence and to the satisfaction of inspectors appointed by the company to watch the experiments."

These tests were strictly carried out in his presence. Mr. Adamson also stated that the machinery, especially crank shaft and shafting, were 20 to 25 per cent. stronger than Lloyd's requirements.

If further confirmation of the ship's stability and seaworthiness be required, it is to be found in the satisfactory career of the vessel of over seven years' continuous running on the coast of Australia, four of which were in the West Australian trade, where the return journey was always made without cargo in all weathers, without accident.

It is important to note that Yongala's specifications were, as in the case of the Waratah, supplied by the owners. Armstrong Whitworth and Company had a fine reputation which was only as good as the specifications supplied. The Adelaide Steamship Company ordered steamers with prominent top hampers and relatively low draughts, a good example of which was the SS Koombana, built 1908 (see image below). I believe the reason for this was multi-fold. There was increasing competition-driven pressure to provide luxurious, elevated (access to sea breezes in warm weather) accommodation for first class passengers, combined with 2nd and 3rd class accommodation lower down in the ship. Add to this a financially viable capacity for cargo and mails, and it starts to become clear that this was the way of the future. An ambitious all in one package. To further complicate matters many of the lesser coastal ports at that time had limited draught access - some with prominent sand bars at their mouths. In fact the larger steamers had to time their arrivals at ports to coincide with spring tides, which in itself probably presented a further pressure to make good passages without delays.  

The Inquiry transcript is glaring in not what was included but what was not. In the case of the Waratah the Court examined the stability curve figures in various conditions of lading. It was not simply enough to state that there were five and the presence of Mr. Adamson ensured all was well. Yongala departed Mackay with only 34% of her usual cargo component and at least a ton of kerosene on deck. This condition demanded analysis of the respective stability factors both GM and righting angles. It's absence reduces the gravitas of the Inquiry. Note that the Inquiry did not even include the maximum draught figures for the Yongala. Again the words white wash come to mind.

Yes, a relevant point was made that Yongala had a good track record in various conditions of lading and all forms of weather at sea. But it took a cyclonic event to reveal this type of steamer's weakness. We must not forget that Grantala, identical to Yongala, was safely anchored in Bowling Green Bay during the same cyclonic storm, at the same time Yongala was 11 n miles out at sea in the worst of the conditions. It was a sensible decision on the part of Captain Sim who understood the limitations of his steamer and did not wish to put her to the final, fatal test.

It is disturbing that the wording and content of this Inquiry mirrored the same a year later at the Inquiry into the loss of the Koombana. Plagiarism masking bias and whitewash.

SS Yongala (I still believe that the size of her funnel could have been reduced to improve stability)

SS Koombana