KANIERE TO CLAIM SALVAGE FOR TOW

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 14

KANIERE TO CLAIM SALVAGE FOR TOW

H.M.N.Z.S. Kaniere would “most definitely” claim salvage for towing the disabled Holm Company freighter Port Waikato to port, the captain of the frigate (Lieutenant-Commander D. H. O’Donoghue) said when questioned last evening.

The Kaniere handed the Port Waikato over to a Lyttelton Harbour Board tug when inside harbour limits at 4 p.m. yesterday. The frigate had towed the ship from a position 225 miles east of the South Island since 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Commander O’Donoghue, in answer to questions, said that rhe tow was made on a “no cure, no pay basis.” [The usual procedure in such circumstances is for an “open form” to be signed by the master of the towed ship and handed to the towing vessel. It is understood that an open form was signed by the Holm Shipping Company in Wellington for the Navy, which would most probably make the salvage claim on behalf of the Kaniere.] The assistance to the Port Waikato was not Commander O’Donoghue’s first practical experience of that nature. Ten years ago he was navigator of a Royal Navy fleet tug out of Malta, and as there were no deep-sea towing organisations operating in that part of the Mediterranean he was frequently at sea towing disabled ships to port. “It was accepted practice for the Admiralty to claim salvage for services,” he said.

Commander O’Donoghue said that after leaving Lyttelton on Monday afternoon (“with all dispatch” and under orders to take the Port Waikato in tow “if necessary”), the Kaniere had steamed at 16*/2 knots towards the position given by the freighter—lso miles east of Lyttelton. The frigate homed in on the Port Waikato with her directionfinding equipment and came up with the freighter about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, at a point 225 miles from the coast. The Port Waikato had a jury sail rigged forward and was drifting.

It was dark, and there was a heavy sea running with a wind ot about 25 knots when the frigate made its first approach to take the freighter in tow at 2.25 a.m. Towing gear had been laid out on the quarter deck, and several times it was washed into a tangle when seas broke aboard. It was the start of a grim time for 12 men under the command of the frigate’s first • lieutenant (Lieutenant-Commander K. M Sauli), whose job it was to pass the gear to the Port Waikato. Commander O’Donoghue said that it was intended to pass a

line from the Kaniere to the Port .ikato with a line-throwing rifle which would take a slightly heavier grass rope, then a manila* line and finally a 3|in steel wire rope. The first firing of the gun was a miss as the frigate approached ,downwind and put its stern “too close—only four or five feet away”—but the second, which followed quickly, was taken.

Because of the dissimilar drifting attitudes of the two vessels the line parted and a second attempt was made with the frigate moving astern on to the Port Waikato. This was described by Commander Sauli as “perishing wet” as seas swept across the quarter deck party who had rigged lifelines for themselves. The grass line was across when it, too, parted; but on another attempt the towing gear was finally pulled to the freighter. “At that stage we asked them to take the sail down. The 1 Port Waikato was making two knots

ahead and at times 1 thought she was going to savage us. She was sailing away splendidly,” Commander O’Donoghue said. When the sail was lowered the ships were able to keep company with no difficulty. A snag arose when the crew of the Port Waikato found they were unable to pay out through the hawsepipe as planned. A man had to be lowered on a line over the side to make the towline fast to the ringbolt of the anchor so I that the anchor chain could be I paid out as part of the tow. I ‘‘The anchor was thumping against the ship’s side and the chap was really courageous to stand on the flukes to make fast. I took my hat.off to him,” Commander O’Donoghue said. It took until 5.20 a.m. to secure the tow and the frigate began towing at 5.30 a.m.; but because of the sea and the swell it was considered prudent to make no more than 4% knots. As the we >ther improved, so did the rate of towing progress, until Anally in calm sea yesterday a speed of 9 knots was achieved.