TUG CALLED TO HELP

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 18

TUG CALLED TO HELP

Waitomo Still Hard On Reef (N«w Zealand Pres* Association) WELLINGTON, October 18. The Tongan tug Hifofua is speeding to the stranded Union Steam Ship Company’s freighter Waitomo. which is grounded on East reef at the entrance to Apia. Samoa. The tug is expected to reach the Waitomo early on Thursday afternoon. The Union Company’s Tofua. standing by the stranded vessel, made a third unsuccessful attempt to pull her off the reef this afternoon. Heavy surf has. prevented five passengers on the Waitomo. the crew, and a party from the shore, who are stranded, on the ship, from leaving the vessel. ■ The party from the shore went on board yesterday afternoon to help the crew shift cargo. The five passengers were bound for Fanning Island, which is the connecting link of the Pacific cable between Bamfield, Canada, and Suva. ’ The Union Company’s head office in Wellington today radioed Nukualofa requesting the Hifofua to go to the Waitomo’s assistance and the tug left Tonga at noon. The Waitomo is broadside on the reef taking a heavy pounding from the surf, which is breaking on her port side. It had not been decided tonight whether the Tofua would continue to stand by until the Hifofua arrived. The Tofua is already several days behind in her schedule. So far the Waitomo is making no water, and there is no sign that the hull has been pierced. Lightening of cargo from her forward holds has been discontinued.

Although the towing cables held, the Tofua did not have sufficient, power to free the Waitomo from the reef at high tide this afternoon. Another attempt will be made early tomorrow morning.