CREW OF SINKING SHIP RESCUED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 9

CREW OF SINKING SHIP RESCUED

Mishap Off Coast Of New South Wales (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. In the darkness 200 miles off the New South Wales coast, 13 men were taken off the small motor-ship Nukulau, early yesterday just a few minutes before she sank. The Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s steamer, Fiona, raced 65 miles to perform the rescue, after picking up distress signals from the slowly sinking Nukulau. The wooden ship—4o7 tons, 140 ft long, 28ft wide—sprang a leak and started to sink at 6 p.m. on Saturday. When the Fiona reached her, a few minutes before 2 a.m., the Nukulau’s decks were awash.

The Nukulau, under Captain Matheson, left Coff’s Harbour, in northern New South Wales, at 1 a.m. on Friday with a cargo of posts, sleepers, and poles for New Zealand. The Coff’s Harbour berthing master, Captain D. Merritt, said yesterday that she was not loaded down to her safety marks and appeared perfectly seaworthy on leaving. Aboard were Captain Matheson and the crew—four Europeans, seven Fijians, and a Maori. The Acting Deputy-Director of Navigation, Captain N. Riller, said yesterday that the Nukulau’s distress signals began at 6.15 p.m. on . Saturday. “When I learned of the emergency I radioed all ships in the vicinity,” he said. “There were about nine or 10 ships heading for the sinking vessel, with the Fiona, which was only 65 miles away, the closest. “At. 9.45 p.m. we were able to raise the Nukulau again by radio. The captain said the decks were awash and that the ship was still sinking. He said he didn’t know how long it would last.”