Tongan Tug Reaches Port After Nine-day Ordeal

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 17

Tongan Tug Reaches Port After Nine-day Ordeal

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 9.

The Tongan Government tug Hifofua, towing a 109 ft long pontoon, battled into New Plymouth early this afternoon after a grim nine-day battle against heavy seas.

Crowds lining Moturoa wharf gasped as the 228-ton tug lurched violently in wind-whipped heavy seas. Finally she edged along the wharf into a safe berth. The tired, drawn faces of Captain D. McCallum and his Tongan crew reflected their grim battle against a storm last night when the sturdy little tug fought winds up to 70 miles an hour. The tug left Auckland towing two pontoons which had been

used during the construction of the harbour bridge. The pontoons were to be taken to Hobart for use on another bridge project. But 400 miles out in the Tasman, the pontoons broke adrift in a raging storm. The Hifofua recovered one and the long tow to New Plymouth began. The winds last night were stronger than those during the storm when the pontoons were lost, but the seas were not quite as rough.

A representative of the Tongan Government said today that no plans had yet been made for the future movements of the Hifofua. “There is a lot to be done before we can make a statement on that,” he said.