BIG SEAS POUND PORT BOWEN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 13

BIG SEAS POUND PORT BOWEN

Liner Remains In Same Position SPRAY HURLED RIGHT OVER SHIP Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, July 28. Rough weather still prevents attempts to remove the stranded liner Port Bowen off Castlecliff Beach. A howling westerly gale raged off the coast today, whipping up big seas, which pounded the liner broadside on, spray being hurled right over the ship at high tide. The vessel remains in the same position, and is undamaged, though close to shore.

There are two anchors still out, a [mushroom and a bower, but it is not Certain whether the bower anchor is [holding or not. The chain, attached to the anchor is slack and, till the steam is raised and it can be hauled on by the winches, those in the vessel cannot [tell whether it is of any use. Two boilers arrived from Wellington last night, and these were unloaded at Castlecliff wharf today, to be taken out to the Port Bowen. A pontoon was being built on which to float the boilers. One of these will be placed {forward and the other aft in the Port Bowen. They have been procured in lease of emergency, to keep the refrigerating plant in action, so as to preserve the valuable cargo of frozen imeat, which is reported to be in good Icondition.

The Wanganui City Council is cooperating with the underwriters, and is making a road down to the beach [to facilitate the cartage of heavy gear. With an average rise of eight feet in the high spring tides at Castlecliff, those who know the beach well believe there will be ample water to float the Port Bowen. The problem, however, appears to be that once refloated, the Vessel will still have to negotiate the Sandbank which runs parallel with the shore, and on which she was held fast from the time she stranded on July 19 till she moved nearer the shore on Tuesday. How far this sandbank stands, or whether the recent heavy seas have but any channels through it will not be known till soundings are taken. To do this work thoroughly will take many hours.

The main cargo of. the stranded feteamer Port Bowen was mutton and lamb carcases, none of which has been taken off. The cheese has all been taken ashore and stored, as has a large proportion of the wool, but butter is still on board. In addition to wool, some tallow has been taken ashore. Totals of the various types of produce carried, the ultimate destination being London, Newcastle and Southampton, are: Lamb and mutton, 29,312 carcases; cheese, 850 crates; butter, 400 boxes; sundries, 207 tons. Of 8000 tons of bunker coal carried, about 4000 tons have been dumped.

SOUNDINGS CANNOT YET BE TAKEN

No Further Salvage Work Meantime Bv Telegraph—Press Association. WANGANUI, July 28. Though it is reported that the Port Bowen has not moved further inshore, at dead low spring tide last night there was only 12 feet of water between her and the land.' It is impossible for soundings to be taken because of the rough sea, and no further attempt by the tugs to refloat the vessel are possible in the meantime. > Westerly winds have a habit of lasting for days, and no idea can be formed as to when the taking of soundings will be possible. A number of firemen whose services are not required have come ashore from the Port Bowen, but before leaving the vessel they were requested to make no statements about the stranded liner. Yesterday the Wanganui municipal water supply was connected to the ship, a special pipe line being run down to the beach and a hose taken from there through the waves to the Port Bowen. This will obviate the daily necessity of having to load drinking water on to the ship by lifeboat. The engineer of the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei Electric Power Board, Mr. H. Webb, has installed a temporary lighting plant aboard the ship. This is working satisfactorily, a motor-car engine being used to operate the generator. The optimism of the tugmasters that the ship will be refloated is undimmed. FROM AUSTRALIA Officer Arrives With Gear For Salvage By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 28. With 35 tons of salvage gear, Captain D. W. Gibson, of the Port Line offices, Sydney, arrived by the Awatea this afternoon to superintend the salvage work on the Port Bowen. He was accompanied by Mr. A. Bryan, of the Sydney Marine Underwriters and Salvage Association.

(Picture on Pago 9.)