BRITANNIA HITS WHARF

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28153, 17 December 1956, Page 14

BRITANNIA HITS WHARF

Mishap Berthing In Stiff Wind DAMAGE TO PAINT AND PLATES There was a freshly-painted patch on the glossy blue hull of the Royal Yacht Britannia when the Duke ”of Edinburgh went aboard last evening. This, and a couple of dented plates, were the only signs of the damage done when the yacht swung hard against the oil jetty at Lyttelton on her arrival on Saturday morning.

The Britannia had been brought into the basin by Captain A. R. Champion, the Lyttelton harbourmaster, and handed over to the Flag Officer. Royal Yachts, (Vice-Admiral Sir Connoly Abel Smith), for berthing. Admiral Sir Connoly Abel Smith did not call for a tug. As the yacht moved in, a stiff easterly was blowing. When she was only a few feet off the wharf a strong gust caught her. heeled her over, and she struck the fender along the wharf near her stern

The wharf shuddered. There was a groaning of timbers and a screeching of metal as the fender bit into the hull, gouging off some of the paint over a length of about 40ft and slightly buckling the plates. - Not a sound went up from the few official guests on the wharf, who either pursed their lips or smiled wryly as thev saw the extent of the damage. The fenders which were hung overside by the ratings and Royal Marines prevented further damage, and a catamaran was placed in position between the hull and the piles of the wharf before the yacht was made fast.

Surgeon-Commander O’Brien was the first officer ashore from the Britannia, and he immediately went aft to inspect the damage. Vice-Admiral Sir Connoly Abel* Smith came ashore shortly afterward, and cast a long, sharp look aft as he walked down the gangway to the wharf. He left immediately on his official calls.

Captain Champion, as he came ashore, walked along the wharf towards the buckled plates. Asked the reason for the sudden swing against the jetty he said: “You’d better ask the admiral about that.”

Later, at a press conference, Sir Connoly Abel Smith’s secretary (Captain H. L. Cryer) said that the flag officer was also captain of the Britannia, and was in command during the berthing. “It was entirely the admiral’s concern,” he said. The Britannia was to have been moved to her berth alongside No. 4 wharf ‘after oiling, but she did not slip until yesterday morning. It is understood that the flag officer decided against moving earlier because of the high wind.