STEAMER KIWITEA REFLOATED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 217, 11 June 1935, Page 10

STEAMER KIWITEA REFLOATED

Omana Still Aground GREYMOUTH MISHAP Another Attempt This Morning SUCCESS EXPECTED Dominion Special Service. Greymoutli, June 10. Although the weather is still showery the flood in the Grey River to-day receded until the level was little above n nial, facilitating attempts to refloat the stranded vessels, Kiwitea and Omana. With the assistance of steel straining wires from the wharf, the vessels at high tide this morning, about 4.30 o’clock, endeavoured to free them selves by their own power, but the attempt proved unsuccessful, the straining wire on the Kiwitea breaking. At 4.20 this afternoon, in anticipa tion of full tide at 5 o’clock, both vessels had full steam up, and the screws were set in motion, later being set at full speed in reverse. Neither vessel made any noticeable movement until about 4.40, when suddenly the Kiwitea began to float downstream She came into the wharf slowly, dropped anchor when some distance off, and swung gradually alongside the wharf, where she tied up. It now appears definite that the Kiwitea missed some rocks, and was resting on a gravel bank, and that no damage has been done to the vessel’s hull. All the cargo, which is mostly coal for North Island ports, is intact, none of it having been removed. Shifted Ten Yards. After moving slightly astern on her own power the Omana showed an inclination to float off what is also apparently a gravel bank at 4.44 p.m., but then her bow swung back again, and the straining wire to the wharf gave way. The Omana swung slightly to and fro. but was apparently held amidships. She shifted in all about ten yards out into the stream but with the falling of the tide the attempts had to be discontinued at 5.30, with the vessel still stuck hard and fast, although more buoyant. Another line was secured from the wharf to the Omana at 7.30 p.m. During the nineteen hours that she was on the gravel bank the Kiwitea had her fore and after peaks alternatively filled with water, and when the stern was raised by filling the fore peaks the current probably assisted by scouring out the gravel from underneath her bow. enabling her to free herself, especially when more weight was put on the stern by filling the after peaks with water. The Union Company’s tug Ternwhiti. which left Wellington on Sunday evening, is expected to reaclt Greymouth earlv to-morrow morning, and will in that case assist in the efforts which will be made at high tide (53.0 a.m.) to f i roll oat the Omana. Success Expected.

On present indications it appears that the Omana will be floated without very much difficulty, as to-day she freed herself to a certain degree As in the case of the Kiwitea, none of the Omana’s cargo of one million feet of timber for Melbourne has been unloaded as vet, and unless unexpected difficulty is experienced in to-morrow’s efforts to refloat her. no cargo will be taken off.

It now appears that the mishap is not going to have serious consequences. It can be regarded as most fortunate that the vessels when they broke away drifted to where they did. Although only a few feet away from. rocks, gravel and possibly silt-banks held them from a further dangerous drift downstream, whilet he yielding nature of the material prevented structural damage. Unless examination reveals unsuspected damage to their plates, the vessels should shortly be able to make their departure as scheduled

Captain V. G. Webb, marine superintendent for the Union Company, left the Rongotai aerodrome yesterday morning in an aeroplane belonging to the Wellington Aero Club and piloted by Mr. I. E. Rawnsley. Me intended to land at Nelson and to proceed by service car to Greymoutli. where he was expected to arrive late yesterday afternoon. A Union Company diver and his assistant, with all necessary gear, went south by the Rangatlra last night and will proceed overland from Christchurch to Greymoutli.