LAST BID TO FREE SHIP

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 10

LAST BID TO FREE SHIP

Winching Plan Devised

iNew Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 21.

A plan has been devised for saving the sand-bound Norwegian freighter Golden Master by winching on giant anchors in conjunction with hold sealing and compressed air injection. The feasibility of this scheme has brought a new air of optimism to the. salvage operations. It is the last hope for freeing the vessel , ■ A giant five-ton stockiess anchor and five mushroom-shaped holding anchors weighing from two and a half to three tons arrived at Mount Maunganui today from Wellington Plans are being made to take the biggest anchor to the freighter by lighter at dawn tomorrow if seas permit. „ When No. 1 hold and No. 2 hold are sealed and the water expelled by compressed air. the ship’s winches will attempt to ease the freighter off the sand. The pull on the ship exerted by this method is tar greater than is possible by a fleet of tugs. The tug Aucklander is no longer needed, and is expected to sail for Auckland at 4 a.m. tomorrow. The Wellington tug Taioima, with a shallower draught, is expected to remain. New drama was added to the salvage with the use of a helicopter this afternoon. Piloted by Mr R. J. Scott, it flew Captain Leif Sandtorv, the Norwegian salvage expert, to the strengthened roof of • the freighter’s sterndeck housing. The high seas which prevented his getting aboard the previous evening made a launch trip precarious this morning. Mr Scott nudged the helicopter into the easterly wind and settled effortlessly on the platform. He made five more trips during the afternoon, taking but mail, papers, an extra cook, and badlyneeded supplies.