PARTED MOORINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 13

PARTED MOORINGS

ABEL TASMAH WRECK INQUIRY [Per United Press Association.] " GREYMOUTH, August 9. When the inquiry concerning the wreck of the Abel Tasman was resumed yesterday morning Captain Cox, the harbour master, said that to bis knowledge three vessels had broken away at Greymouth during Hood time —namely, the Taupe, the Omana, and the Abel Tasman. The present mooring system had always been adopted. The, flood on July IS was not such ns to cause concern. The trouble yvas really due to defects,in ships’ chains. He suggested that when a second cable was put out a 4Jin steel wire mooring line should be used instead of the anchor chain, and that the port anchor should remain shackled to the chain ready for instant use. A special steel wire line should be kept on the ship for mooring. He also suggested an extra turn around the mooring posts. He was not in favour of the practice of slackening the stern moorings and allowing ships to ease out from the wharf, as this led to a shoaling of the berthage. The Abel Tasman was moored as well as possible. Captain Henry Moar, deputy-har-

■hour master, said that on July- 18 he instructed the Kaimai to put out a second cable. The moorings ot the Abel Tasman complied l with the requirements. He was told that steam was handy at a pressure of 1601 b. Witness did not consider it necessary to use a ship’s engines with a current of eight knots, but was in favour of using them when there was a current of 10 knots. There was a danger to the propellers from logs when the engines_ were running. There was no objection to the propeller just turning over. A similar system of mooring was in vogue at Westport. Mr T. D. C. Milne, harbour engineer, stated that the cause of the Omana’s brcak-away last year was the failure of a crystallised shackle. The Kaponga wreckage was 115 ft north of the centre of the navigable channel, and there was ample room for vessels if they kept the course indicated by the beacons. The evidence was concluded and counsel will address the court on Monday.