Crane Lifts Funnel From Seabed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 28

Crane Lifts Funnel From Seabed

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 10. The 25-ton funnel of the Wahine, cut from the superstructure a fortnight ago, was lifted from the seabed this morning by the floating crane Hikitia.

It will be cut up for scrap and sent to the Pacific Steel mills at Auckland. Thirty-three cars have been removed from the wreck. Another two have since been dragged from the vehicle deck, but those still to be recovered pose a difficult task for the salvage crew.

A team of men was working in “almost impossible conditions,” said the New Zealand representative for underwriters (Mr J. M. MacKay). The cars are resting in foulsmelling mud and cargo, including eggs and coke spilt from the roll-on trailers.

The conditions were appall ing, said Mr Mac Kay, and something would have to be done about the smell. The first shipment of foam from the United States, consisting of 600 drums, is due at Wellington tomorrow morning in the Trojaland. The refloating of the ship, however, would not start until all the equipment had arrived, said the chief diver of the Murphy Marine Pacific Sal-

vage Company (Mr R. Me. Kenzie).

This company is working in liaison with the United Salvage Proprietary of Australia and is supplying the foam.