ROUGH TRIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 December 1926, Page 2

ROUGH TRIP

STEAMER’S FIGHT WITH GALE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 30. With her supply of ‘ bunker coal low,' the British transpoi t steamer, liArmSttan, returned to Auckland this atteriiOOm Since leaving this.port five and fldMlJf days ago, tile vessel has. had a long battle with trememfyy* seas, being, driven a considerable Off her course. The"' ilarmStta®/ Oiidti recently discharged a St Chelsea, left Oh ..WtoeW afternoon!, b'ofiiid! KFeiVG'aS'tie.- was> in light trim arid! iiicWte good time for the' feitrly part 6'f Hid Voyage Favourable weiiHifir was experienced until the vessel was IS the vicinity Of North Cape, when the wind freshened from the west, gradually m force, until at midday on Frida// H was blowing a full gale. The wind caused the Harmattan ; to roll heavily, but as the ship W'aS floating very high, only light sprays W6te' shipped on the deck. Early on Friday afternoon the vessel was in a position fiplirOXi-" mately ninety miles west of Cape Maria Van Diemen, and was making only four and a-half knots. Owing to the ship’s light condition, and the heavy sea that was running, the steamer’s propeller was continually racing and in order to increase the vessel’s draught No. 4 hold was flooded. On board the steamer,- the crew had an unenviable experience. “She rolled worse than ever before,” remarked a member of the ship’s company today. Preparing and eating meals was no easy task, for the lightly laden steamer rolled more heavily than ever. Hugh seas smashed against the ship’s sides, but only small quantities of spray reached her decks. In No. 4 hold, the water which had been pumped in to increase the ship’s draught was splashing high up against the hatch cover. There was no improvement in the conditions on Saturday, the Harmattan continuing to roll, and strain heavily. On Sunday morning when the vessel was about 150 miles in a northwesterly direction from Cape Maria it was discovered that the ship had not sufficient coal in her bunkers to allow her to complete voyage. Accordingly, the vessel was put about and made for Auckland. About noon on Sunday, the wind shifted to south west, but continued to blow with gale force 'and not until yesterday afternoon did it show any signs of easing up. From the vicinity of Cape Maria until after passing North Cape the Harmattan experienced strong winds and rough seas, but the wind then shifted to' the south and the remainder of the return trip to Auckland was made under more favourable conditions. From noon on Saturday until 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, the steamer’s speed averaged only 2.6 knots and this poor speed was not all progress, for the vessel was driven a considerable distance north, on Sunday being as far as 120 miles out of her course. Despite her severe buffeting the Harmattan, which is owned by the Willis Steam Shipping Company of London, escaped damage. Under ordinary circumstances she would have arrived at Newcastle this morning. On arrival this afternoon, the Harmattan anchored in the stream, where she is bunkering from the Hikurangi. She will probably take her departure for Newcastle to-morrow.