SALVAGE OF GOLD FROM NIAGARA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 12

SALVAGE OF GOLD FROM NIAGARA

USE OF OBSERVATION CHAMBER BRITISH COMPANY’S EQUIPMENT •(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 8. Divers encased in a chamber of steel 438 ft below the surface of the water will soon be watching outside the chamber a mechanical grab grope for gold bars, as salvage from the wreck of the former Pacific liner Niagara, now lying off the entrance to Whangarei Harbour. They will be operating from the British salvage ship, Foremost 17, now in Auckland, a modem observation chamber designed by an Italian engineer, Roberto Galleazzi. By telephone they will be able to tell the grab operators on the deck of the salvage ship above them what to do. But sometimes a successful “bite” takes a long time.

Salvors use an observation chamber chiefly to make surveys of a wreck to ascertain damage, to direct the lowering and firing of explosives, to blast away obstructions, and to help grab operators to lift cargo. Usually cylindrical in shape, it is made strong enough to withstand the enormous pressures at great depths. The occupant breathes at normal atmospheric pressure. The chamber is equipped with breathing apparatus on the regenerative system. This absorbs the carbon-dioxide of the occupant’s exhaled breath, replacing the oxygen which he has used. No air supply from the surface is needed. External and internal pressure gauges, telephone, clock, and electric lamps are standard equipment. Powerful sodium vapour lights, either attached to the chamber or worked separately from it, illuminate sumberged objects. The -chamber has four or more windows. Suspending wires operated by a steam winch on the salvage ship control the movements of the chamber on the diver’s instructions. Three flexible steel wires are plaited to prevent spinning. Before the introduction of plaited cable, divers suffered violent attacks of vomiting. An observation chamber —then called a diving bell—was used by . the Australian salvors in 1940 when ninetenths of the Niagara’s treasure was recovered. Nine of the crew of 32 aboard the Foremost 17 come from the Shetland Islands. They would like to arrange a reunion of all Shetland Islanders in New Zealand. The last time the Shetlanders saw their homeland was for a short leave during salvage operations in Australian waters.