CARGO FOR N.Z. JETTISONED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 10

CARGO FOR N.Z. JETTISONED

Japanese Ship Stranded

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 13.

New Zealand cargo in three of five holds of the stricken Japanese freighter, Nagasaki Maru, was jettisoned at sea to make salvage attempts easier. The Nagasaki Maru was stranded on Helens reef, north of Dutch New Guinea, on December 5. The ship was en route from Japan and Hong Kong to Auckland direct and had 600 tons qf general cargo to discharge here. She also had cargo for Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. Since the stranding the helpless steamer has been pounded by heavy seas. The captain and crew are still aboard. To desert her would leave her as an “open” claim. Cargo in the No. 1,2 and 3 holds was jettisoned on January 1 to lighten the ship to facilitate salvage, said a spokesman for the ship’s Auckland agents today. Cargo in the No. 4 and 5 holds was not removed.

Gale force winds stopped salvage attempts and the latest report is that conditions are worsening, said the spokesman. Meanwhile, the New Zealand managing agents, George H. Scales, Ltd., of Wellington, are negotiating with th: Customs Department for the replacement licences for the lost cargo. The Nagasaki Maru was due in Auckland on December 18 or 20. She was under charter to the Osaka Shipping Company, Japan, which runs a regular shipping service between Japan and New Zealand.