Careless Navigation - Master Blamed for Loss of the Rosella - 'Judgment was given at Cardiff on Friday in the inquiry ordered by the Board of Trade into the loss of the steamship Rosella, near the Roches d'Ouvres lighthouse, off the French Coast, on the 16th of September last. The only party to the inquiry was the master (Mr. S. J. Lyberg).

The Deputy-Stipendiary (Mr. E. Milner Jones), in delivering the judgment of the court, said the course was a safe and pro per one up to 5.15 a.m. on the 16th of September, when the master went on deck, but due allowance was not made for tide and current. The stranding was due to the careless navigation of the master in continuing too long on a fine course in approaching a well-known place of danger, and not making sufficient allowance for tide. He had not taken ordinary seaman-like precautions by verifying the position of his vessel when nearing Roches d'Ouvres lighthouse. For these reasons the court held that the vessel was not navigated with proper and seaman-like care, and that her loss was due to the wrongful act and default of the master, whose certificate would be suspended for three months.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 31st October 1908.

Ships in Collision - 'His Honour Judge Owen was occupied for some time at Cardiff County Court to-day in hearing a claim for £1,400 damages brought by Messrs. Elvidge and Morgan, Cardiff, the owners of the steamship Rosella, against Messrs. Cay, Hall, and Co., Bristol, the owners of the steamship Cereda, in respect of a collision which occurred between the two vessels near Penarth Low-water Pier. Mr. Lewis Noad (instructed by Messrs. Downing and Handcock; was for the plaintiffs, and Mr. John Sankey (instructed by Messrs. Vaughan and Roche) for the defendants.

Evan Millward, a. pilot, gave evidence as to the Rosella proceeding from Penarth Dock and being run into by the Cereda. After hearing evidence at considerable length, Mr. Sankey said his position was that his position was that he could not resist that he was to blame, but he submitted that the plaintiffs were to blame also. He called no witnesses.

Mr. Noad said he had never yet heard of judgment of both to blame without calling the defendants' witnesses, and he hoped his honour would not create such a precedent. His Honour: Why should I have evidence of a fact which Mr. Sankey has admitted. Finally, his Honour said he was of opinion that both vessels were to blame. He made the usual reference to the registrar.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 6th November 1908.

The 'Rosella' was a general cargo, iron hulled, single screw steamship built at the North Sands yard of J. L. Thompson & Sons Limited and launched during April 1881 for J. H. Barry of Whitby. She was of 1,415 gross and 916 net register tons being 242.2 ft. long x 34.1 ft. breath x 18.3 ft. draft. She changed hands in 1891 and again in 1900 to the Rosella Steamship Company Limited (Elvidge & Morgan) of Whiby and Cardiff. [845]