ORGANISATION FOR EMERGENCIES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 11

ORGANISATION FOR EMERGENCIES

Freak Tides Showed Deficiencies

Deficiencies in the national organisation for emergencies were “glaring” during the recent tidal disturbances and were now being “cleaned up,” the secretary-manager (Mr A. L. Burk) informed the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday.

The emergency organisation had since been in very close contact with the Marine Department and other departments, said Mr Burk. “Things are all right when they go right,” he added “and all wrong when they go wrong. Things are being dealt with, as far as ports are concerned, on a national basis.”

An event of national importance had been the abnormal tidal disturbance which occurred on the New Zealand coast on the night of Monday, May 23, reported the chairman (Mr A. A. Macfarlane).

Lyttelton, along with other east coast ports, suffered damage, but in the circumstances, the port could have been more seriously affected than it was. The whole matter has been so capably reported in the newspapers that it was not his intention to attempt to amplify those reports. “I visited Lyttelton on Tuesday. May 24, and witnessed for myself the extraordinary tidal conditions and the effect they were having on port operations and installations,” said Mr Macfarlane. “I wish to pay tribute to the work carried out by the staffs of the engineer-in-chief • Mr J. A. Cashin) and the harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion). Their efforts are deserving of the highest praise. I also wish to place on record, my appreciation of the voluntary offers made by local bodies. Government departments, other harbour boards and individuals to assist us in restoring normal operations.” 20ft Change “The seismic sea-waves affected Lyttelton inner harbour by a smooth, rapid fall and rise of the water level, the initial drop being to about Bft below harbour datum (normal low water level) and the subsequent rise to about Ift above H.D.—about 6ft above normal high water level—the two movements taking place in about an hour.” reported Mr Cashin. “The change of water level was thus about 20ft in one hour compared with 6ft in 61 hours with a normal tide. From these figures it would appear that the flow in the outer harbour would be at least 8 knots at times. “Some concern was felt regarding the dredged channel, and soundings were made at the earliest opportunity. Although there was considerable difficulty in making soundings it was found that no very serious damage had been done to the channel. In the circumstances the soundings were necessarily very approximate and new soundings will be taken when the present oscillations settle down. “The most serious damage was to electric motors and control gear of 46 capstans which were flooded,” said Mr Cashin. “The motors had been removed, washed

in fresh water and are now in the process of being dried out. If this is successful the capstans should all be in operation by

about June 3; if not, they will be immobilised for a number of weeks while the motors are being rewound. In the meantime nine tractors have been, hired and those, together with other improvisations, are keeping the trucks moving.

“The abnormal water levels and speeds gave rise to some appre* hension regarding the newly placed reclamation material in the new works,” reported Mr Cashin. “However, no serious damage was noticeable; some unusual cracks appeared in various places but unless they develop considerably there seems to be no reason to suspect any largescale movement of the fill.” Staff Work Praised Great service had been given to the port and the province by the board's nautical and engineering staffs, said Mr W. B. Laing. He hoped never to see such tidal fluctuations—“which were so eerie”—again. Foresight and skill were shown by the harbourmaster when he cleared the port last Thursday, said Mr Macfarlane. Mr Laing: He showed more foresight than those who rushed to the seaside to watch for the wave. Mr F. I. Sutton asked if any consideration had been given to the purchase of portable radio transmitting sets to be used by the board's staff in an emergency. Asking when the capstans would be back in work on the wharves. Mr Laing complimented officers on arranging for tractors to shunt trucks. The port, he said, was working at 90 per cent, efficiency. No electrical work had been done on the motors of the capstans, replied Mr Cashin Salt water had teen washed out of the motors and they were being dried and tested for electrical resistance. “We hope to dry out some this afternoon.” said Mr Cashin. “We are quite hopeful.” Dock Not Endangered If the tide had dropped suddenly after the big rise on two occasions, the Parera, which was in the graving dock, might have gone out of the dock, said Mr Laing. Thirty years ago. the caisson was always fastened to the bottom of the dock by chains led through ring-bolts on the caisson deck. Mr Macfarlane: They had it very firmly lashed with ropes when I was there. But as the dockmaster said: “You can’t pump water nowhere” (laughter). There was no danger, the harbourmaster assured the board. About three feet of water entered the dock, the pumps were stopped and when the water receded, the water was pumped out “If a big wave had come, the dock would have been flooded.” said Captain Champion. “It would have had to be a big wave before the dock gate would have gone out. There was very little chance of it going out. as it was well loaded down to the sill and lashed.”

Appreciation was received by the board from the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club for the efforts of the board's staff in looking after the interests of owners of yachts and launches and from the Timaru Harbour Board for the warning given by the harbourmaster on Monday. May 23, on tidal conditions.

The Timaru board, as well as boards throughout the country, had offered assistance in getting the port back to working order, the board was informed. The board recorded its appreciation of the offers.