STOWAWAY FOUND ON TANKER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27632, 13 April 1955, Page 14

STOWAWAY FOUND ON TANKER

HEAVY SEAS PREVENT RETURN (New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, April 12. When the 7800 ton tanker, Edith Borthen, left Timaru direct for Curacao, on Good Friday night she carried a stowaway. The stowaway, believed to be a seaman from another vessel in port at the time, was discovered when the Edith Borthen was about two hours’ out from Timaru. Efforts to have him returned to Timaru were foiled by a southerly gale which swept up a heavy sea, and he is being carried on to Panama. As soon as the Edith Borthen’s commander (Captain A. Erdal) learned of the stowaway, he turned the tanker back toward Timaru and requested Wellington radio to arrange for the Timaru pilot launch to put to sea and take off the man.

The Timaru Harbour Board’s harbourmaster, Captain F. J. Callan, received the message about 9 p.m. and the pilot launch was made ready. With, Sergeant G. M. Cleary of the Timaru police aboard, the pilot put to sea to meet the Edith Borthen, which was standing about one mile off, but because of wind and a leak in the launch’s fuel lines, Captain Callan decided to return to port. At Captain Callan’s request, the fishing vessel Seafarer, commanded by its owner, Mr P. G. Knowles, put out to sea, but by time ♦he tanker had resumed its journey. Later, Captain Calian received a message from the tanker’s captain, who said he had carried on because it would have been unwise to attempt to transfer the stowaway in the heavy seas.