Freighter Sails To Aid Drifting Barge

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 3

Freighter Sails To Aid Drifting Barge

f.N Z. Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, December 4. The freighter Kuretai is speeding to the aid of the disabled barge Amsterdam VII, adrift 370 miles west of Gabo Island.

The Kuretai, owned by the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., is expected to reach the barge tomorrow night. The Amsterdam VII was on its way from Geelong to New Plymouth, when it radioed last night that its gearbox had broken down and that it was adrift. The master of the Kuretai said today that he would stand by the disabled ship and render any assistance if necessary.

The Kuretai will stand by until the Dutch tug Nordzee arrives to aid the barge and its crew of seven.

The Nordzee's position was given as about 850 miles from the barge and it is estimated

that it will be in the area about Tuesday night. The Victorian secretary of the Seamen’s Union, Mr B. Nolan, today expressed concern at a decision to send the Nordzee to the aid of the barge. “The lives of men were involved and a tug or any vessel closest to the Amsterdam VII should have been sent as soon as the skipper of the ship had sent out his distress call,” he said.