MARAMA DELAYED BY STORM

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21826, 4 July 1936, Page 7

MARAMA DELAYED BY STORM

DIFFICULTY IN BERTHING Arriving in the harbour at • the height of the strong southerly gale yesterday morning, the Marama, which is relieving the Maori in the steamer express service, took nearly two hours to berth, which she did with the assistance of the tug. The Marama did not encounter the gale until nearing Lyttelton, so that her progress was not retarded, and she arrived outside the moles in good time at 6.50 a.m. Conditions were so bad,’however, and the Marama, unlike the regular vessels in the service, not being equipped with a bow rudder for speedy berthing, that Captain R. M. Kane decided to take the prudent course of anchoring in the outer harbour and signalling for the tug. The tug left the wharf -t 7.45, and taking a tow-rope from the Marama, brought her into the shelter of the inner harbour, where an effort was made to swing the Marama, to enable her to back into the wharf. Just as th manoeuvre was in progress a fierce squall struck the Marama. which had to drop anchor. When the wind eased, the tug again took the tow-line, and thL time swung the Marama, steadying her while she backed into her berth. The vessel was finally alongside at 8.45 a.m. r .ue Marama left Lyttelton last night on her final trip in the service. The Maori is to leave W ' , '""? ton to-night •for Lyttelton, and the Marama will reenter the inter-colonial service next week.