TANKER DAMAGES PROPELLER AND PUTS BACK FOR REPAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 12

TANKER DAMAGES PROPELLER AND PUTS BACK FOR REPAIRS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 25. Striking a submerged object as she was sailing from Auckland for San Pedro, California, the British tanker Donacilla damaged her propeller and was forced to return -to port. Following an inspection carried out while the ship was at anchor in Auckland Harbour, it was decided to send her to sea to dump water ballast and dook her in Auckland for repairs. A motor tanker of 8,113 tons belonging to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company Ltd., the Donacilla has been discharging petrol from Abadan at Auckland, and sailed for San Pedro at 8 a.m. When the tanker was outside Tiri Tiri Island it was noticed that the propeller bearings were heating unduly, and it was decided to return to port. When the Donacilla arrived back at anchor the ballast was pumped to the forward tanks until the stern rose sufficiently for the propeller boss to clear the water, slowly tilting forward as thousands of gallons of water were pumped from the after tanks. The tanker made an odd sight to those watching from the shore when the vessel was nearly 20ft from her normal trim. Parties of shipwrights made an inspection, which revealed the damage.