Crew’s shell shock

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 1

Crew’s shell shock

Army explosives experts and the police were called in yesterday after an unexploded shell was dredged up in Lyttelton Harbour. Captain P. J. Chrisp, the relieving master of the Lyttelton Harbour Board dredge Peraki, is shown inspecting the 4in shell. A 6in practice shell was also dredged up by the Peraki a week ago. “We find these things from time to time. The practice shells are harmless, but we take no chances with the others,” said Captain Chrisp. The 4in shell, believed to be a smoke ejector of World War II vintage, was dredged up by the Peraki in the harbour channel off Camp Bay about 1 pan. It had rattled through the dredge’s pumps before being discovered, and was later chiselled at by inquisitive crew members.

However, the Army ordnance party which was called in took no chances. They took the rusted shell away, and will later explode it at the Army’s West Melton firing range. Captain Chrisp said most of the practice shells which the Peraki dredged up had apparently been fired from naval guns on fortified Ripapa Island more than 40 years ago.