Ship’s crew rescued

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33373, 3 November 1973, Page 9

Ship’s crew rescued

The Union Aotearoa, which is under long-term! charter to the Union Steam! Ship Company as an Asian trader, is at present at Lyttelton. The master, Captain H. M. (Dillner, of Auckland, said [that on the evening of September 21, when the Union Aotearoa was bound from Fremantle to Port Kelanf, Mr L. W. Butterfield, of Lyt- [ telton, the ship’s third offi!cer, saw masts and smoke ,11 miles astern. The Union Aotearoa was soon within loud-hailing distance of the burning ship. She launched a lifeboat,

which took in tow three lifeboats from the ship. According to crew members, Captain Dillner skilfully manoeuvred the large Union Aotearoa as close as possible to the Lalang. At that time, it was thought the Lalang had explosives (aboard. i Union Aotearoa crew : members saw the Lalang’s [crew fighting the fire with ionly buckets and a garden hose. They had no distress signal equipment.

Mrs Dillner said that the 31 passengers who boarded were all frightened but extremely grateful for their rescue. Apart from a few burns the Indonesians were not injured. The Union Aotearoa’s cook and catering staff performed herculean efforts to cope with 54 extra people, Captain Dillner said. Crew members gave up their ac-

commodation, and did everything possible to assist.;: Captain Dillner said that the: Union Aotearoa’s men!; fought the fire with the;! ship’s hoses from as close a" range as was deemed safe i for his ship. ij In answer to his radio;[ message, a salvage tug from Singapore eventually took! the Lalang in tow. The last) he heard of her was that she! had become a burnt-out! hulk, Captain Dillner said. Test umpire.—The Australian-, born Mr W. Allej' has been in-; eluded on next season’s panel of! England’s test match umpires i for the first time. Mr Alley, who! played for Somerset between! 1957 and 1968, takes over from! Mr A. E. G. Rhodes. Athletics.—lsrael has reconsidered its withdrawal and will now! compete in the first Asian track ( and leld championships in Man-; ila on November 18. Twenty I countries are expected to take! part. j