REFLOATING OF WANGANELLA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 6

REFLOATING OF WANGANELLA

Another Attempt Postponed DIVERS’ ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 22. The attempt to refloat the Wanganella was postponed from high tide this afternoon for 12 or 24 hours. At the high morning tide the stern had been revealed almost as far down as the rudder and beneath the bridge the hull appeared to have weakened. At low water a trough of swell would show the bottom of the bow torn away for an indeterminable length. A big gash was apparent where the rock below the bridge had gored the plates on striking. Divers estimated the aperture as 12 feet in length. They also estimated that there were 17 feet of water in both forward holds, and that a weakness was developing further aft than the bridge. >oubts were entertained as to whether an actual tugging effort would be made in time. The turning point appeared to be the discharge about 3.30 p.m. of about 600 tons of fuel oil. This ran like a dark river 200 yards wide ajjid a mile long out into Cook Strait. Afterwards the position was somewhat easier, although still grave. The wind was still northerly and the weather generally warranted a little optimism. Although the tugs Kahanui, Toia, and Terawhiti moved down the harbour to the Wanganella, they were eventually dispatched’’ to starboard of the liner, where they remained with a certain amount of shelter offered by the reef from a blustering northerly wind. The Huddart Parker Company’s marine underwriter (Captain McDonald), of Melbourne, is expected in Wellington to-morrow. An official statement may be made after he examines the ship. Several inquiries from overseas salvage firms have been received in Wellington about the Wanganella.