Nella Dan’s stern stuck

Press, 22 December 1987, Page 6

Nella Dan’s stern stuck

By

DAVID CLARKSON

The Nella Dan’s stern remained wedged into Macquarie Island’s rocky shore after two more attempts to pull the vessel clear yesterday. The first attempt was in the middle of Sunday night, when the week of work to lighten the stranded Antarctic support vessel began to pay off. The Australian Antarctic Division’s press officer at the Hobart headquarters, Mr Peter Boyer, said the ship was pulled round with the bow pointing towards open water instead of being grounded parallel to the shoreline in Buckles Bay. The ship had begun moving with the swell, he said. About midday there was another, but not too

serious, attempt to pull the vessel clear. There was some; movement, but a decision, was made for a definite attempt to pull the Nella! Dan into clear water eatly today (New Zealand time) when the tide would be higher. “At that stage, they can make a thorough investigation of i the hull, before deciding what to do with her,” said Mr Boyer. “They have to decide whether to move her another place for repairs, or scuttle her.” The Lauritzen Line, which owns the vessel, had decided it wished to salvage the Nella Dan and was putting pressure on the salvage team, which was not keen to tow the ship any long distance, he said. The ship was driven aground by a sto.m on December 3.