HARBOUR COLLISION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 8

HARBOUR COLLISION

■ LAUNCH GOES DOWN CHEW SCRAMBLE ON' BAKGE (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. _As a result of a collision with the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Rangitoto in the harbour shortly after 6 o'clock last night, the launch Alert, which was towing a shingle barge, was sunk. The crew was in no danger and escaped to a barge before the launch sank. The launch, which was towing an empty shingle barge from Freeman's Bay to Kawau, was moored to the port side of the barge, while the Eangitoto was returning to Auckland on the return trip from Coromandel. The Rangitoto struck the launch on the port bow carrying it away from the barge, which was also carried with the steamer for. some distance. But for towlines between the barge and the launch the latter vessel must have sunk immediately. There were two men on the barge and two on the launch when the impact took place, but no one was ir jured. The men on the launch were not thrown into the water and were able to scramble on to the barge before their own vessel finally sank. The launch went down near where the collision occurred, and tho barge was moored to mark the spot, lights being displayed to warn shipping of its position.

Tho Alert, which was owned by Parry Brothers, shipping and towing agents, was a vessel 32 feet long with a beam of nine foot, and was employed principally in towage work. She was not insured, and an effort will be made to salvage her.