COASTER FLOATS OFF ROCKS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 12

COASTER FLOATS OFF ROCKS

CLANSMAN RESTING ON SAND SALVAGE AT WHAKATANE (New Zealand Press Association) WHAKATANE, June 7. With three pumps taking water from her flooded null, the coaster Clansman today floated off the rocks al the Whakatane Harbour entrance. She is now resting on the sandy bottom inside the bar. Warning that the Clansman was moving was given at 3 p.m. ’today. Some cargo from the hold had been transferred during the morning to the scow Jane Gifford, but by midday the swell at the bar had increased so much that operations were suspended for the day. Salvage workers were rushed to the heads by car, and crossed to the clansman by dinghy when the alarm was given. With about a dozen mooring lines on the Clansman, and the weight of cargo and seawater in her hold, there was not much danger of her being washed off the rocks without assistance, but as additional security, another line was run out from the stern and made fast to rocks near the shore. By 3.40 p.m., the Clansman’s bow was obviously free of the rocks, and pitching with the waves. The vessel had righted herself, and was almost on an even keel. During the next hour, with pumps forcing water from the hold, and the tide still rising, the Clansman became increasingly buoyant. Her bow swung to port, away from the rocks, and the whole ship began to ride with the waves. By the use of the vessel’s own winch to haul against a 14-ton kedge anchor, she was drawn ♦forward off the rocks. The pilot launch Port Whakatane attempted to tow the coaster further from the rock's, hut the line snapped. In the gathering darkness, the launch went ciOae again, and another line was made fast.

Although the pull was maintained until after dark, the Clansman gradually settled back towards the rocks as the tide went out. Another attempt to move the ship clear of the harbour entrance wjll be made at high tide early tomorrow morning.

Ice Skating.— The Canterbury ' ice skating season will nrobably start at Lake Ida this week-end. Although it was raining in Christchurch last night, a frost was reported at Lake Ida and there was already one inch and a hall of ice on the lake. If there are inland frosts again tonight and tomorrow the lake should be ready for skating on Sunday.