PILOT LAUNCH SINKS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 12

PILOT LAUNCH SINKS

♦ STRUCK BY STEAMER’S PROPELLER ACCIDENT OFF OTAGO HEADS TOTAL LOSS OF VESSEL FEARED fTHIt PRESS Special Service.]' DUNEDIN, February 2. After fouling the propeller of the A. and A. Line steamer City of Bagdad, when the pilot was boarding the vessel to bring her into port eany this morning, the Otago Harbour Board’s pilot launch sank in 110 feet of water, about three miles off Otago heads. According to the opinions of those who witnessed the mishap, the launch will be a total loss. The pilot, Mr J. E. Page, took the Shaw, Savill and Albion motor-ship Waiwera out this morning when she sailed for Bluff to complete discharge of her Liverpool cargo, and was picked up by the pilot launch, which was in charge of Coxswain W. .hornson, and the launch driver, Mr V. C. Marris. The City of Bagdad, from New York via northern ports, was expected, and the pilot waited for her. When the vessel drew near, the launch went alongside, and while the pilot was boarding her, the launch drifted towards her stern, and fouled her propeller, in spite of the efforts of the crew to keep her clear. The screw of the steamer struck the launch, cleaving her from the gunwale to below the water line. The City of Bagdad lost no time in lowering away a boat, which took off the pilot and the two members of the launch’s crew. The launch sank in about 40 minutes. As the City of Bagdad is to sail at daylight to-morrow for Sydney to commence loading, the Marine Department’s local officers took statements from members of the crew of the vessel. These will be referred to the Minister for Marine (the Hon. P Fraser), who.will decide whether an official inquiry should be held. Asked whether the board was considering taking any steps to replace the launch, an official of the Harbour Board said this evening that it was too early to make any statement on the point. It was probable, however, that the possibility of raising the launch would be explored before any other action would be taken. The pilot launch was built in 1908 as a pleasure craft, and was well known on the Otago harbour under its name of Innisfree, the owner being Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C. She was purchased by the Harbour Board in 1920. and was converted to suit the purposes of a pilot launch, and had been used for that service ever since. Originally the launch was powered with a Jersey Standard engine, but this was replaced a ‘few years ago with a more modern power plant. She was covered by an insurance policy for about £3OO