TRAWLER IN DANGER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 12

TRAWLER IN DANGER

Sprang Leak Off Heads

Two Lyttelton fishing trawlers battled through heavy seas off Banks Peninsula "yesterday to the aid of the 40-year-old trawler Melba, which had sprung a leak. The owner of the Melba (Mr N. Liddicoat) said last evening that he was returning to the port about midday when the trawler began to take on water. An hour later, the bilge pump stopped, and as the water was lapping around the boat’s gearreduction box. Mr Liddicoat decided to send Mayday calls. The distress signals however, were apparently not picked up, and the Melba wallowed in the sea for an hour until Mr Liddicoat picked up on his radio a message between the Gannet and another fishing vessel. He then asked these vessels for aid, and the Gannet, which was leaving the Heads about a mile off, rushed to the Melba's assistance. A further message had, in the meantime, been transmitted to the port, and the Tawera also left to assist. The Tawera eventually took the Melba in tow, and the two trawlers arrived back in port late in the afternoon. The Melba was last evening hauled on to the slip for inspection. “No Signals Picked Up” The signal tower at Lyttelton maintained a 24-hour listening watch, and no distress signals were picked up yesterday, said the harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion). All distress signals were transmitted on a frequency of 2182 kilocycles, whereas the fishing fleets used a frequency of 2045 kilocycles, he said, it was possible that Mr Liddicoat sent his Mayday signal on the wrong frequency, said Captain Champion. The first message the signal tower received was at 2,25 p.m., advising that the Tawera had the Melba in tow.