Fisheries Patrol Vessel Aground

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 12

Fisheries Patrol Vessel Aground

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. H.MK.Z.S. Mako, a fisheries patrol vessel, was hard aground tonight on rocks inside the Whakatane harbour entrance. Her hull was holed in two places and she was reported to have made some water. The crew of eight ratings, commanded by Lieutenant J. T. Ford, were safe. Heavy seas and a falling tide defeated an early attempt to refloat the vessel. A salvage team from the Navy dockyard at Auckland, led by Lieutenant-Com-mander F. Lawry, left the city tonight and is due at Whakatane at 2 a.m. tomorrow in time for a second salvage effort at 3 a.m high water.

The Mako ran aground about 3 pm today while entering harbour after patrols in the Bay of Plenty. The rocks were under water and it was about an hour after high tide.

An attempt was made to free the vessel with the aid of a Whakatane fishing trawler, the Jocelyn, but the rough seas on the bar and the falling tide forced the effort to be abandoned. The Mako heeled slightly to starboard and wire ropes brought from the Whakatane Board Mills were used to steady her. Workers from the mills were tonight assisting the crew to prepare the Mako for salvage. They worked under floodlight* patching the torn huU. . The Mako woe high and dry at 10 p-m- on 8 shelf of rock. . . , Scores of people crowded r,

the waterfront to watch the operation. The Northern Company’s freighter Clansman was wrecked close to the same spot about five years ago. The Mako, a harbour defence launch in the Second World War, is based at Auckland.