BLANKETED IN CHANNEL

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 14

BLANKETED IN CHANNEL

THREE VESSELS CAUGHT IN DENSE FOG CUSTOMS LAUNCH LOST, TOO [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 21. Three large ships coming one after another up the harbour this morning ■were suddenly blanketed in one of the densest fogs the city has experienced for many years. Within seconds all were shut out from the other’s sight and anchored. When the sun finally dispersed the heavy fog Auckland was given the remarkable spectacle of the Monowai, the Monterey, and the freighter Inverbank lying at a standstill one behind the other in the channel off llangitoto, so close to one another that it was almost possible to shout across the intervening distances. The Inverbank was the first to pass Tiritiri at 5.15 a.m., being followed at 6.30 by the Alonowai and at 6.35 by the Monterey. All picked up pilots and a little later the fog dropped down on every one when the Monowai was just about to pass the Inverbank. After continuing a short distance and using their fog horns the three vessels stopped and let go their anchors. The Monowai did not berth until 9.10 a.m. The Monterey came in after waiting for the tugs to finish with the Monowai at 9.80, and the Inverbank tied up at 10 o’clock. Meantime a large crowd of relatives and friends of the passengers on both liners stood at the end of the wharves gazing out into the impenetrable wall of fog over the inner harbour. Carrying hoarding parties for both the Monowai and the Monterey, the Customs launch left at 6.30, but instead of coming alongside the ships a quarter of an hour or so later did not find them at all until 7.30. The fog descended on the launch as it was crossing the harbour. Visibility was limited to a few yards, and the location of the Devdnport wharf was discovered only when a bell began to ring from it. Then, before the launch had found its way past North Head, it touched slightly on a sand or mud bank without, however, stopping. After rounding North Head the launchman set a northerly course by compass and decided to hold it for 15 minutes. In 12 minutes he found the Inverbank, and within a few more minutes, helped by the clanging of their bells, he had come alongside the Monowai and then the Monterey. The liners followed the Customs launch by sounding their fog horns while in motion, and then using bells as soon ns they anchored.