ARAHURA'S MISHAP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 3

ARAHURA'S MISHAP

FIVE HOURS AGROUND

SKILFUL SEAMANSHIP

Further details of the stranding and subsequent refloating of the Anchor Shipping Company's steamer Arahura on Cape Stephen, D'Urville Island early on Saturday morning snow that the vessel had a narrow escape from striking the rocks, and that skilful seamanship played a large part in extricating her from a perilous position. Carrying mails, but no passengers, the Arahura, which is commanded by Sn examination to determine the extent of the damage to her hull. A Press Association message from Nelson stated that, except for a slight listto starboard, the Arahura, when she arrived safely at Nelson with all the passengers at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, looked little the worse for her mishaD After precautionary repair work %ie vessel sailed at 10 a.m. yesterday for Wellington. VERY THICK WEATHER. After leaving Wellington on Friday night and passing the Karon Rock light, the Arahura ran into such thick weather that no other landmark was sighted. There was a moderate swell and visibility was practically nil, and instead of taking the route through French Pass, the outside course was decided on. When the vessel went aground at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday she jolted heavily, awakening all the passengers. For a time she appeared to be hard and fast, but later swung round. Five hours after grounding, on the incoming tide, the Arahura was refloated, and when it was found that she was making very little water, which could easily be controlled by the pumps, she anchored off shore. When the ship struck, the passengers were warned that a mishap had occurred, and ordered to put on lifebelts. They were quickly assisted and directed to the lifeboat stations. . In the pitch darkness and driving rain, the passengers, many of whom were clad only in night attire, had an unenviable and alarming experience. LIFEBOATS SWUNG OUT. The women, numbering 41, and 12 children were first placed in the lifeboats, which were swung over the side and remained hanging on the davits ready for immediate lowering should circumstances make it necessary. While the Arahura rolled with the swell, the boats swung about, sometimes /hitting the ship with considerable force. In that uncomfortable position they remained for threequarters of an hour till daylight. The coming of daylight disclosed the vessel's position, and showed how fortunate she had been in grounding at that particular spot. On both sides were rocks, and ahead, only about 200 yards away, was the beach, backed by steeply rising hills. A line was run ashore, and the lifeboats were lowered and hauled to the beach, saving the necessity for rowing. All the passengers were landed, and on the beach the men did all they could do to improvise shelters from the wind and rain. An Air Force launch arrived and took 40 women and children and the ship's mails to French Pass. After the Arahura was refloated at about 9 a.m., the passengers on the beach entered the lifeboats and were towed out to the ship by launch and reembarked by means of a Jacob's ladder. Leaving her anchorage at about 1.30 p.m., the Arahura steamed to French Pass, picked up the remaining passengers and mails, and at 4.8 p.m. resumed her voyage to Nelson, where a large crowd gathered on the wharf to watch her arrival. The crowd joined with the passengers in cheering the master, officers, and crew.