FREIGHTER AGROUND AT MELBOURNE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 267, 24 August 1949, Page 3

FREIGHTER AGROUND AT MELBOURNE

STEERING GEAR CARRIED AWAY MELBOURNE, Aug. 23. The Australian freighter, Time, of 3322 tons, ran aground on a reef inside Port Phillip Heads to-day and is regarded as a total loss. The vessel was bound from Sydney to Melbourne with a full cargo of sugar and a crew of 44. As she passed through the heads againrst a strong ebb tide her steering gear was carried away. She kept on and cleared the rough water of “the rip,” but ran full upon Corsair reef. The Queenscliff lifeboat was quickly alongside and began to take off the personal belongings of the crew. For the first time in Victorian coastal rescue work two-way raaio operated between the lifeboat, the Port Lonsdale lighthouse and Williamstown, and a continuous commentary on the situation was reported. The vessel is belancing on the edge of the reef with deep water astern. There is a large hole in No. 2 hold. Her engines were reported this auernoon(to be still pumping, but the bilge contains sand, indicating that as she settles her position is becoming more precarious.

The Queenscliff police say there is no chance of saving her, as she began to break up before noon. The crew is in no danger and will be taken off if the situation deteriorates. DISPUTE PREVENTS SALVAGE CLAIMS BY TUG CREWS (Rec, 10.55.) MELBOURNE, This Day. A dispute similar to that which involved tugs in Wellington harbour, when the liner Wanganella was on Barrett’s Reef, is delaying attempts to salvage the coastal steamer Time, which grounded yesterday morning on Corsair ‘Reef, inside Port Phillip Heads. Argument over rates to be paid tug crews prevented any efforts by tugs yesterday or last night, though the ship was being buffeted by heavy seas and was in imminent danger of breaking up. The tugs concerned are the Eagle and the former Wellington vessel Terawhiti, which figured in the salvaging of the Wanganella. The two crews refused to proceed to the stranded ship unless guaranteed emergency rates amounting to £5 a day, with 10s 6d an hour overtime. Later the owners agreed to pay these rates, but the Terawhiti did not move then because of shortage of bunkering coal. The dispute prevented the flags being ready to sail at the flood tide. Arrangements have been made for a salvage attempt at high tide today. Captain J. P. Williams, who salvaged gold from the Niagara in 1940, and who has saved £1,000,000 worth of shipping in Australian and New Zealand waters, is in charge cf operations.