TO DOCK HERE

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 6

TO DOCK HERE

NAVAL TRANSPORT TOW LINE BREAKS IN GALE ‘ BYRD'S CRIPPLED MERRICK The United States naval transport Merrick, which was damaged in a collision with an icefloe while serving with the Byrd Polar fleet, is being towed to Port Chalmers. A Press Association message received from New York this morning states that in an 80-mile-an-hour gale and in mountainous seas the tow line with which the icebreaker Northwind is towing the disabled Merrick to New Zealand snapped, leaving the Merrick adrift and unable to steer. The Northwind and transport Yancey are standing by. The ships are 900 miles from New Zealand. TO DOCK HERE.

Earlier advice, received yesterday by the Otago Harbour Board, stated that tile Merrick, which is of 17,000 tons, would arrive to-morrow at Port Chalmers for docking and repairs. It now appears that she cannot he expected for at least a week, by which time the overhaul of the Wninui, wjhich at present occupies tho Otago dock, should be almost completed. It had formerly been expected that the Merrick would have to lie at Port Chalmers for approximately 10 days before she could be docked.

The original plan was to tow the Merrick to Wellington, hut, with the allocation of the floating docile to the Wanganella, the. Central Dodkiug Committee diverted the damaged vessel to Port- Chalmers. The Otago dock can accommodate vessels' up to 527 ft in length and 70ft in beam, and will thus readily be able to cope with the Merrick, the dimensions of which are cited as length 459 ft, beam 63ft.

No further information has been received to-day as to the extent of the damage to the vessel, hut Mr J. T. Knewstubb, the manager of Stevenson and Cook Ltd., said last night that his information was that the rudder had carried away. The exact amount of work that would have to be carried out, however, could not be ascertained until she was docked.