3a["The S.S. Koombana", The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 20 March 1909, page 3]

THE S.S. KOOMBANA.

AGROUND AT SHARK BAY.

The new steamer Koombana, owned by the Adelaide Steamship Co., which started from Fremantle on Friday last on her maiden trip up the Nor'-West coast, has met with misfortune at Shark Bay, she having grounded on a sand bank known as Bar Flats. The Koombana left Geraldton on Saturday night and was expected to reach Carnarvon on Monday evening. As no word of her having reached Shark Bay had been received up to noon on Monday anxiety as to her safety was manifested. In the afternoon word was received that she had grounded some ten miles from Denham. Next morning another telegram was received to the effect that the boat had grounded 14 miles from Denham, and that the haze which had prevailed on Monday morning having lifted, the vessel could be seen by the aid of glasses from the township. The opinion was expressed that it would be three or four days or even longer before the boat could be got off the bank, and this surmise has proved correct, the latest report being that her position is unchanged. On Thursday morning the steamer Winfield, also owned by the Adelaide Steamship Co., left for Shark Bay. After part of the Koombana's cargo has been transferred and with the higher tides, which are now making again, it is hoped the vessel will be refloated.

The chart shows that in the centre of Bar Flat there is a depth of one fathom only. Our correspondent at Shark Bay states it is understood the grounding of the vessel was caused by Capt. Rees mistaking the buoys in the hazy weather. If this were the case, the probability is that the captain, thinking he was in the channel, went full speed ahead, and that the steamer shot along the bank for her full length. Whatever the cause, the mishap is to be deplored. Captain Rees has established a well-deserved popularity on the coast, and his many friends hope that his explanation of the occurrence may clear him from blame in the matter.

Among the various rumours circulated in town during the week was one that the position of a buoy had been changed and that this was contributory to the mishap. We understand, however, that although a new buoy was substituted for the old one, the position was not changed.

The Koombana is a steel screw steamer of 3,760 tons register. Her principal dimensions are: 340 feet between perpendiculars; 48 ft. 2 in. beam (in our last issue, owing to a printer's error, this was given as 28 ft. 2 in.); and 20 ft. 8 in. in depth. On a draught of 19 ft. she can carry 4,000 tons of cargo.

(From A Correspondent.)

Shark Bay, March 18.

The steamer Koombana, due early Monday, not arriviug, she was found on a sandbank at Bar Flats, 14 miles from here. Every effort was made to re-float her by emptying the ballast tanks, etc., but without success. The steamer Winfield left Geraldton at 2.30 this morning to lighten her. It is anticipated that approaching 500 tons will have to be moved to allow her to float. The cause of the disaster is understood to be that the morning being very thick and misty, Capt. Rees mistook the middle buoy of the channel, which is on the north of the channel, for the first one, which is on the south side, and in trying to pass to the north got on the sandbank.

3b["s.s. Koombana", The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 12 June 1909, p2]

S.S. KOOMBANA

The Chief Harbourmaster (Captain C. J. Irvine), having made inquiry into the circumstances attending the stranding of the steamer Koombana in Sharks Bay on the morning of March 16, has furnished his report and finding to the Under-Secretary. His report and finding is as follows:

"The s.s. Koombuna sailed from Fremantle on March 12, for Derby, via ports and rounded Cape Levillain at 3 a.m. March 16, had steered the usual course for Heirisson Flat Buoy (the outer or westerly mark for the entrance to the channel leading to Denham painted red. At 7.10 a.m., when nearing the channel, the westernmost black buoy marking the north side of the channel was sighted, but the morning being hazy, together with the rising sun, gave the buoy a red appearance, which led the master, also the chief officer who was present on the bridge, to conclude the ship had made her course good from off Cape Levillain, and that the buoy in sight was the red one marking the north end of Heirisson Flats, and a course was shaped for the channel accordingly, the result being that the ship grounded on a small isolated patch of sand, having a least depth of 14 feet over it, the ship's draught being approximately 16 feet 10 inches. Some twenty minutes before sighting the buoy a leadsman was placed in the chain, and the lead was kept going until the buoy was sighted. The engines were also stopped immediately prior to picking up the buoy, and when the buoy was sighted the engines were ordered full speed, and the vessel took the ground about ten minutes after the order was given. Every endeavour was made with the appliances to hand to refloat the vessel, but without success, until the s.s. Winfield rendered assistance. The bottom being soft sand and the water, smoooth, the vessel sustained no damage.

"My finding is:- (a) The s.s. Koombana, whilst on a coasting trip from Fremantle to Dorby via ports, grounded in the vicinity of the entrance to the channel leading to Denham; (b) that the grounding was caused by the master mistaking the mark buoy in north side in the channel for the outer or westerly buoy; (c) under the circumstances owing to the haze preventing the master from verifying his position by bearings from the headlands, and the fact that the lead would give little warning of the approach of shoal waters, more care should have been exercised when approaching Heirisson Flats, and the speed of the ship reduced to 'slow' until the vessel's position had been definitely ascertained; (d) considering the past good record of the master, and the fact that the vessel did not sustain any injury, I recommend that no further action be taken. (Signed) C. J. Irvine, Chief Harbourmaster.