SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 7

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

$. SHAW SAVILL LINER ASHORE. LITTLE HOPE OF SAVING HER. ALL HANDS SAFE. ASSISTANCE SENT FROM CAPETOWN. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. CAPETOWN, 22nd January. The steamer Aotea, of the Shaw Savill Line, is ashore at Mouille Point, close to the spot where the Maori, of the same company's fleet, was wrecked in August, 1909. The Aotea lies broadside on to the beach, and has listed seaward. There is water in all her holds. The vessel is bumping badly on. the rocks, where she is wedged, and there is little hope of saving her. There are good prospects of salving the cargo if the weather is favourable. All hands are sale. Steam lighters have been despatched from Capetown to salve the vessel. [The Shaw Sat ill liner left Liverpool on* 26th December last for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dune-din, via Capetown, with a full load of general cargo. She was due at this port about the 16th of next month. This is the second serious accident which has happened to the Aotea within a short period. Last year, while proceeding to Quebec to load far Australian and New Zealand ports, she went ashore near the Martin river, and remained for several days. She was eventually towed up with her foreholds full of water, and the engine-room tank leaking, and taken to (Quebec for repairs. The Aotea is a steel screw steamer of 5600 tons, built by Swan and Hunter, at Newcastle, in 1895. Her dimensions are— Length 430 ft 6in, breadth 49ft, depth 29ft 6in.] V/ERE THE LIGHTS VISIBLE? CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. .VESSEL PROBABLY A TOTAL LOSS. - EEMOVAL oITdANGEROUS CARGO. (Received January 23, 8.20 a.m.) CAPETOWN, 22nd January. The Aotea, while entering port for bunkering purposes, struck at 1.40 in the morning on a rocky bottom at Moulle Point. The Green Point and harbour lights were close on either hand. A resident, named, Pentz, three hundred yards away, says he was awakened by a crash and saw blinding signal lights. He then distinguished the lights of two Vessels. A thickish haze prevailed. Others say the Robben Island light was visible across the bay. The sea was in its calmest mood. Pentz telephoned for assistance, but life-saving requisites were not needed, the crew remaining on board. The Aotea is wedged fast, and is absolutely motionless, with a slight list. She lies in twenty-six feet of water, broadside to the shore. There is water in both holds. The ship's bottom is badly damaged, and she will probably be a total loss. Stevedores, with tugs and lighters, were very busy throughout Saturday and Sunday, carefully removing 35.0 tons of dynamite, which was among the general cargo. Their operations were facilitated by the calmness of the sea. There is nothing to show how the Aatea struck. The only sign of damage from the shore is a broken rudder. STEAMER STRANDED \U A FOG. OFF THE COAST OF NORFOLK. PASSENGERS RESCUED BY LIFEBOATS. (Received January 23, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, 22nd January. The Great Central Railway Company's steamer, Lincoln, stranded m a fog on Haisborough uands, Croowr, on the ■coast of Noifolk. Her distress signals were unperceived for twenty-four hours. Ths weather fortunately was favourable, and lifeboats then rescued the passengers. [Hakborough, or Happisburgh, is a parish twelve and a half miles south-east of Oromer. The sands are about eight miles from the coast. The Lincoln is a vessel of 1075 tone, built in 1883, and registered at Grimeby. She is 251 ft long by 32ft broad, and 15ft 9in deep.] VESSEL ON A REEF. FLYING THE BRITISH FLAG. HER IDENTITY UNKNOWN. " f (Received January 23, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, 22nd January. A steamer flying tho British flag, is on tho reef 3 near Cape Florida, near the entrance to the Straits of Florida. Her identity is unknown. Steameiß have gone to assist.