ABANDONED STEAMER

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 5

ABANDONED STEAMER

COURT OF INQUIRY ACTION JUSTIFIED. Brew Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.ZI. Trass Association. MELBOURNE, August 13. The Court of Marine Inquiry found that the steamer Awaroa was battered by a galo in Bass Strait, and that her master and crew were justified in abandoning her. The court expressed the opinion that the vessel at the time of abandonment would not have remained afloat for any length of time, and further found that the vessel was apparently seaworthy, not improperly loaded or overloaded. The court was unable to determine the cause of the leak. [The Holyman Company's small steamer Awaroa. was abandoned in Bass Strait on July 21. Tim crew of the Awaroa, numbering thirteen, wore flicked up by the steamer Huntingdon in the vicinity of Cape Liptrap. The Awaroa was en route from Hobart with general cargo for Melbourne. The vessel sprang a leak during a heavy gale and began to fill. The crew worked all night knee-deep in water and jettisoned a portion of tlie timber cargo in their endeavors to save the ship. Eventually it was decided to abandon her. An attempt was made to launch a lifeboat, but it was smashed by the waves. The crew managed to launch tho second lifeboat, and after being battered about lor a considerable time in the rough sea they were rescued in an exhausted condition by the Huntingdon, which saw their distress signals.]