FERRY CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 209, 5 September 1933, Page 5

FERRY CRASH.

RANGATIRA DAMAGED COLLISION WITH CRANE. REPAIRS AT WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Prcss Association.) CHRISTCIIURCH, this day. Damage totalling about £ 1000 1 was done this morning when the ferry steamer Rangatira, from Wellington, crashed into the floating crane Rapaki at Lyttelton. The Rangatira pushed the Rapaki astern into the breastwork, crushing the pilot launch Ruahine against the piles and smashing four piles. The Rangatira had two stern plates damaged, but will sail for Wellington to-night fov repairs. A resounding rrash was heard all over the port as the huge floating erann crushed the launch Ruahine against the breastwork and finally pushed it ove* four broken piles to rest under the staging. The Rapaki's stern plates were damaged and much of the protective belting was torn. The damage to the crane is estimated at £200 and repairs to the launch Ruahine is expected to cost at least £500. The accident was ascribed to the failure of the Rangatira's engines to go ahead as she backed into her berth. A diver is now making an underwater examination of the stern of the ferry steamer, but it is stated that she is not making water. Huge Dent in Stem. Following his usual custom, Captain Cameron swung the Rangatira in the basin and brought her in stem first. Instead of stopping at the berth the steamer cut through two nine-inch ropes and collided stern on to the bow of the craneship, which was moored a few cable lengths away, and the crane lurched at the impact but righted itself and was pushed back against the breastwork, catching the launch Ruahine as it went. Four huge piles snapped off under the tremendous weight, and a fifth was torn out of position. In the nick of time the Rangatira's engines responded to the "full steam ahead" order, and the ferry moved slowly to her berth, taking the Rapaki with her, a chain from the craneship having fouled the propellers of the Rangatira.

The launch was the more extensively damaged, as it had acted as a buffer between the stern of the Rapaki and the broken piles. The cabin wheelhouse and the whole superstructure were swept clean, and a huge dent appears in the Rangatira's stern, but the whole damdge is believed to bo above the waterline.