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Winneba - a general history

Masters: 1911 JG Bisson: 1913 FS Mason.

Winneba left Addah on the Gold Coast bound for Moravia on 23 July 1913 with a cargo of palm kernels, oil & other African produce & a crew of 23 all told.  It was Mason’s first voyage as master. The weather was clear until 26 July when heavy rain obliterated vision. On 26 July 1913 she grounded & was wrecked on Basha Point Rock, Ivory Coast. The inquiry found that the casualty was due to the over-confidence of the master in the cast of a single lead at midnight when he was aware that the position of the ship was in serious doubt & to the alteration of the vessel’s course towards land without a further cast of the lead after 8pm on 26 July. The 2nd officer was found in default for not calling on the Master when the rain interfered with the look-out ahead. The master at the time was unwell with a fever so it was thought this may have had a bearing on him being below in his cabin & the 2nd officer not calling for his presence on deck. Both the master & the 2nd officer were severely reprimanded for their actions. 150 tons of the cargo was salvaged before her holds were flooded. No lives lost.

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