Naval Divers To Check Hull

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 22

Naval Divers To Check Hull

A team of seven navy divers will arrive in Wellington today to start an investigation of the sunken wreck of the Wahine tomorrow.

The team, under Lieutenant Commander T. H. Wickman, was asked to Investigate the wreck by the Marine Department. It will work from the department’s launch Enterprise and will make an extensive survey of the ship’s hull. The 20ft by 6ft gash in the hull revealed in a preliminary examination would be sufficient to allow the divers into the Wahine. But Lieutenant Commander Wickman could not say yesterday whether the divers would enter this way. Although diving in the vicinity of a wreck is always regarded as hazardous, much depends on the tides, the state of the sea and whether there is any loose structure. The team, which will be flown to Wellington by the Air Force, has been on standby at the naval diving school at Devonport since the Wahine sank. Lloyds have released a report by Captain M. J. Anderson, a representative of the Salvage Association of London. He said underwater examination revealed very extensive damage and holing of the bottom plating throughout, but mainly to starboard, including a hole 20ft by 6ft under the main alternator (electric power plant) a little aft of amidships. The salvage office reported: “Little damage to the port side but anticipate greater damage to the starboard side which is not accessible. “The starboard propeller, also a section of shaft and a supporting bracket, missing. “The starboard navigating bridge wing, which extends beyond the moulded breadth, rests on the sea bed apparently supporting the top

edge of the starboard side off the sea bed. “Forward 110 ft length unsupported but the remainder of the vessel is in contact with the sea bed. “The vehicle deck forms a virtual continuous watertight flat extending almost the complete length and from the description of the vessel’s behaviour at the time of capsizing, I must assume the compartments below the vehicle deck are flooded through ruptured tanktops, or that the holing starboard side extends above the tanktop level.” The report said both platings of the ship’s double bottom appeared to have been involved in the holing.