THE ABEL TASMAN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 10

THE ABEL TASMAN

Position of Vessel Not So Good POUNDED BY BIG SEAS Dominion Special Service. Greymouth, July 21. Although the weather was fine and sunny to-day, heavy seas pounded away unmercifully at the stern and port side of the wrecked steamer Abel Tasman. However, this did not prevent the captain and his staff and a dozen men going aboard in a basket on the lifeline and recovering further items of personal effects and clothing of the crew which could not be gathered and. sent ashore yesterday. Most of the belongings were recovered, but were badly drenched. The appearance of the steamer had worsened considerably to-day and waves were sweeping unrelentingly along the deck on the port side into the forecastle and then continuing on into, the nose of the ship. The after hatch of No. 4 hold had partly burst open. The estimated value of the New Plymouth shipment of 505 bags of hides and skins located in the fourth hold alone is £4OOO. This and the cargo of tallow should be salvaged without any great loss or detrimental effect to it. In attempting to regain clothing and other articles from various parts of the ship, one member of the crew, J. Pearson, to-day stripped off and went through the flooded rooms. Captain G, Knowles, surveyor to the council of the New Zealand Marine Underwriters, arrived to-day from Wellington and will to-morrow make an inspection of the steamer. He will then make a report and recommendation to the underwriters. The hull,' machinery, wireless equipment, and cargo, according to Captain Knowles, is covered by insurance. An inspection of the vessel reveals that the steering quadrant aft was carried away. On the deck is a layer of shingle which was shipped when the steamer ploughed her way over the bar with the force of the fresh behind her. Hatch beams three-quarters of an inch thick are twisted and warped considerably. The port side of the bridge has been torn away by the heavy seas which have been breaking over the ship at high tides. The stem lifeboat on the port side is smashed to pieces. The forward deck on the starboard side is strewn with timber right against the forecastle, but the port side was free. In the engine-room the water is level with the second grating, and the ship is undoubtedly holed in this region. Captain Archibald to-day surveyed the vessel in company with the inspector of machinery and surveyor of ships, Mr. J. G. Lockie, on behalf of the Marine Department.