RAPAKI SAFE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18755, 28 July 1926, Page 8

RAPAKI SAFE.

ARRIVAL OFF LYTTELTON ; HEADS. ' V J— — ■ -'V.V CRANE SHIP ANCHORED. Late yesterday afternoon the signalman on duty at the Adderley Head signal-station sighted what he thought was the crane-ship Rapaki a long way off land. The vessel came slowly nearer and between 5 and 6 p.tn communication was opened with the Morse .lamp. The signalman fp*und that he had made no mistaKe, and that the stranger was indeed the Rapaki, about which some anxiety was being felt. Captain Mack had evidently decided to stand off the Heads last night, but at 8.30 it was decided by the Harbour Board authorities to send the tug Lyttelton out to tow the vessel in. A southerly was threatening, and there was a risk of the ship being blown to sea again. The tug got a line on to -the Rapaki at 9.20 p.m., when outside the whistling buoy. The wind was then freshening up and a heavy sea was running-; so rough was it, in fact, that the pilot could not get aboard. Then followed two hours' strenuous work on the part of the tug, as she endeavoured to g«*t her unwieldy charge into the shelter of the land, and it was 11.20 when the Rapaki dropped anchor in Camp Bay. The tug arrived back at Lyttelton at midnight. It was reported' that all, on board are well and that not much rough weather had been encountered. The delay was caused by poor steaming. The Rapaki will berth this morning, weather permitting. For Lyttelton Harbour Board. It was in December, 1924, that the Lyttelton Harbour Board accepted the Sir W. Arroll and Co. (with Fleming and F*ergusson. Ltd.) for the supply and delivery of the crane barge, at a price of £42.000. The contract price called for the delivery of the crane within 19$ months from the time of acceptance, but a clause provided for extra time allowance in the event of labour troubles or other unavoidable circumstances. Some such delay was caused, but, even so, the Rapaki has arrived within a week or two of the original contract time.' The crane has been tested to 100 tons, and she will lift 80 tons at a radius of 50 feet, 60 tons at 65 feet, and 15 tons at 75 feet. The Rapaki was 109 days out from Greenock. The Wellington Harbour Board has recently ordered a similar crane to the Rapaki.