EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 101, 10 February 1936, Page 6

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

THE HULL OF THE RANGATIRA. LENGTH OF 140 FEET AFFECTED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. How extensively the Union Steam Ship Company’s inter-island express steamer Rangatira was damaged w en she struck a, reef near Wellington heads on the morning of Sunday, I eomary 2, was only revealed when she was put on the floating dock this morning. The damage is continuous for 14U feet from the bow, and it was only the immense power of her engines that enabled her to be hacked off the reel and brought safely into port, stern first. In this, the Rangatira’s bow rudder was of great service, and missed being put out of action by only a few inches. In fact, an examination of the vessel in dock to-day revealed the very small margin of safety the Rangatira had when she limped into port, and emphasises the great skill shown by her master, Captain W. D. Cameron, in extricating his ship from an apparent v hopeless position and bringing her "to safety. It will ho days before the full extent of the damage, both internal and external, is revealed, and even a detailed description of the external damage as it appeared to-day would be an almost impossible task. The whole of the Rangatira’s keel, from the stein to a point approximately under the forward of her two funnels, is set up and score of frames badly bent and twisted. Aft from that point to the mainmast the keel is damaged in places under Nos. 1 and 2 holds, where collision mats were placed in position to check the entry of water. The keel plates and those adjoining are twisted and torn from position for practically the whole length of this portion of the vessel’s bottom. Over the whole of this portion of the hull, rocks in varying sizes are wedged firmly into the gaps where plates have been torn away from the frames. Shelf Brackets Bent.

Externally, the most extensive damage is just aft of the bridge, where on both port and starboard sides the bottom plates have been pierced and split for upwards of , 12 feet, the holes being sufficiently wide for a man to crawl through with comparative case. Throughout this portion of her hull, the Rangatira has a double skin, and many of the massive steel brackets between the two skins have been bent and twisted' out of all recognition. Further aft still, under the starboard motor room, which is aft of the boiler and engine rooms, there is further extensive damage, plates and frames being set up to such an extent over a large area that the bed of the starboard motor is slightly set up. Such was the amount of water emptymg'itself out of the hull this afternoon, even after the dock had been raised, for several hours, that tliero was upwards of an inch of water over almost the whole floor of the dock under the Rangatira. Internally, the damage to the vessel ; s frames is probably very great, hut it will ho several days before this is revealed by a thorough examination of the Rangatira’s hull by surveyors. Even then it will bo some time before the Union Company’s marine draughtsmen and surveyors will be able to draw up plans and specifications for the extensive repair work which will be necessary before the Rangatira resumes her running.