SHIP DISABLED IN CYCLONE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 121, 16 February 1937, Page 9

SHIP DISABLED IN CYCLONE

Temporary Repairs Made

(Received February 15, 7.40 p.m.)

Brisbane, February 15.

S.O.S. calls were received from the steamer Shousing (4920 tons), which is believed to be drifting helplessly with a broken rudder in a cyclone 700 or 800 miles east of Cairns. .The vessel is believed to be north of the Bampton Reef, beyond Willis Island.

Several vessels, including the steamers Nellorc and China Exporter, are hurrying to the assistance of the Shousing. The Shousing •Is bound from Ocean Island to Melbourne carrying a full cargo of phosphates, and has a Chinese crew of 40 and Japanese officers. She is commanded by Captain Kasalo.

The Shousing formerly was known as the Pauline, the Daylina. the Strabaand, and the Bright Vega, and is owned by Japanese interests in China. The present agents'for the vessel are the British Phosphate Commission. A later message .states that the Townsville station picked up a weak radio message from the Shousing saying that temporary repairs had been effected to a broken rudder cable and the vessel was now heading for the Queensland coast. Much water had been shipped and the wireless room was flooded. The ship’s wireless range was therefore limited.

The tramp steamer China Exporter, which is hastening to the rescue, radios that she was 550 miles from the Shousing at noon to-day, but was not in direct communication with the disabled vessel.