Ship’s rudder bent

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 18

Ship’s rudder bent

(N.Z. Press Association) GISBORNE, November 17. The survey ship, H.M.N.Z.S. Lachlan, damaged her rudder when caught in strong north-westerly gusts and was blown against a shelf when leaving Gisborne at 8.30 a.m. yesterday. The ship struck when manoeuvring in the swinging basin. She was caught by a

strong gust of wind and her stern hit the shelf on the slip, way side of the basin. The Lachlan was manoeuvred to the opposite side of the basin, with the aid of the harbour board’s tug, Hikurangi. The survey ship was then tied at the breakwater while a diver inspected the damage. The wind was gusting up to 35 knots and the basin was quite choppy. A crane was used to lift the ship’s vehicle on to the wharf, and for a few anxious moments observers thought it might come to grief. A

• rope appeared to slip as it was being lifted, and the vehicle was left hanging nosedown as it was being brought ito the wharf. But it was ■ lowered skilfully without , mishap. ' It was about high tide when the incident occurred, I and as the tide went out there was a new problem. i At 11 a.m. the harbouri master (Captain J. W. Cook) said the stern of the ship was ; resting against the sloping i shelf by the breakwater and > the port propeller was : actually in the mud. . The tug was used to try land pull the ship off the shelf (into deeper water, but the strain was too much and the rope snapped. Arrangements were then made to try and get local trawlers to help.