Kaitawa Salvage Unlikely

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 18

Kaitawa Salvage Unlikely

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) AUCKLAND, June 13. At least five men were probably on the bridge of the collier Kaitawa when she sank in more than 130 feet of water near Cape Maria Van Diemen last month, the Auckland manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, Mr R. A. Johnson, said tonight. Those on the bridge at the time, said Mr Johnson, were most likely the master, the duty officer, the helmsman, the radio operator and at least one look-out. Mr Johnson said the crew’s quarters were situated amidships, near the bridge, in the 17-year-old ship. , The company considers the ship is now owned by Lloyds of London, with whom it was insured, and the question of salvage now rests with them Lloyds are not expected to make any move to salvage the ship, which was bound for Portland with a cargo of coal from the West Coast.

A ship like the Kaitawa could cost at ‘east £600.000 to build today—about twice as much as 15 years ago—if the company was to consider a replacement. Mr Johnson said the company, which has already paid two weeks’ wages to the families of the crew, would pay another two weeks’ wages to ensure there was no hardship to the dependents. Meanwhile, the job of finding out how and why the ship foundered goes on. Captain E. Milroy, a Marine Department investigator, has begun examining photographs obtained by a television camera at the scene of the wreck and is also studying eye-witness reports from divers. This task, which is being done at the Devonport naval base, is expected to take two or three days. When the investigation is complete, Captain Milroy will submit a report to the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott).