PORT AUCKLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 7

PORT AUCKLAND

ROUGH TRIP’S EFFECTS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 26. During heavy weather at sea on June 27, the steamer Port Auckland sustained damage to her deck, which made it advisable for the - vessel to return to Wellington for repairs. A nautical inquiry is being held to-day before Air. Hunt S.M., Captain Barron and Air Lockhead, Engineer. It was mentioned that the vessel was practically new, this being her second trip. Air Prendeville, for the Customs, said the Department had no suggestion to make, nor any accusation. The purpose of the inquiry was to prevent if possible a recurrence of such casualty. Mr. J. E. Bridger, Chief Engineer, of the vessel, said that she was between 1500 and 1600 miles from NewZealand, when she turned back. The deck plates had been buckled and the deck beams set up, while plates and beams were all working very much at the spot. The damage occurred during the night, and was discovered at daylight. During the night the vessel took some very heavy seas. After 35 years’ experience he could say, he had never seen such a succession of gales as was experienced -on that trip for some nine days. Witness was of the opinion that the damage was caused by the heavy weather. 4 The Chief Officer said the master of the vessel joined her in New Zealand and wasn’t present when loading was commenced. The vessel though heavily laden was not down to her marks. The total cargo was 9797 tons, while bunker coal in addition weighed 3150 tons. The vessel was trimmed before leaving Lyttelton and was on an even keel drawing 28 feet 9 inches on leaving Lyttelton. Gales were encountered and speed reduced. Eventually they ran into a hurricane squall with phenomenal seas. Witness watched the plates in the deck in heavy seas. They pulsated and undulations ran through the vessel as far as No. 2 hold. The stowage was inspected and watched daily. The buckling might have been caused at No. 3 hatch by the strain on the centre resulting through the vessel losing support amidships when crested on two waves. Since the vessel was in port, the cargo had been restored and 1000 tons removed from No. 3 hold.

Captain Keith, of the AVestmoreland agreed with centralised stowage, whicli cased a vessel. It occasionally happened that other than cargo vessels sustained deck buckling in the centre. He thought the captain was correct in returning to port. Members of the crew also gave evidence attributing the damage to heavy weather. D. C. Blair, Lloyd’s representative, said that exceptional conditions of this voyage could not have been provided against by the builders. He would have allowed the ship to be stowed as she was. The Court adjourned to view the vessel.