LINER ASHORE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1939, Page 7

LINER ASHORE

PORT BOWEN'S MISHAP

STRANDED AT WANGANUI [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, July 19. The. /; liner Port’Bo>ven went ashore ' at one'b’.clock this morning, about' ajpf a mile,off the beach and a mile''rr!6m the Harbour entrance. The Port Bowen arrived in the roadstead about one o’clock this morning, from Picton, to load 20,000 freight 3 carcases, and shortly afterwards She .v grounded. , It was low water at the time. . ■ ; 7:

The vessel came to rest on the .< beach almost broadside on, with her bow pointing at a slight angle toward the shore. The sea was calm. ] The vessel took a list to starboard. T The pilot station was communicated with immediately, and the crew of the J. tug Kahanui was summoned. Within > two hours, steam'Was up, and the tug was standing by. The pilot launch Karero was also taken, out. The Port Bowen was in the act of turning when she grounded. The night was fairly clear, looking- seaward, but was misty on land. The vessel is held on the sandy beach by her bow. When the tide started to make, she was described as' “alive.” The tug Kahanui is ”ully equipped ” with salvaging gear, and was able to ;•, get close in to the stranded vessel. All preparations were made to lay Kedge anchors, should the wind.. >. • spring up or the sea become rough. ' ;*

The Port Bowen has on board: For London, 1,840 carcases' of mutton, ' 8,477 of lamb, 72 tons of sundries, 400, boxes of butter and 700 crates; of v cheese. For Newcastle, ten tons, of - beef. For Southampton, 235 carcases ],* of mutton, 18,750 of lamb, 135 tons of ; sundries, and 150 crates of cheese.

TUG LEAVES WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, July 19.

The Union* Company’s steam tug Terawhiti left this morning for the scene of the stranding, and is expected to arrive there about 10 p.m. The Wellington Harbour Board's tug Toia is at present under overhaul.

REFLOATING ATTEMPT FAILS

WELLINGTON, July 19.

An attempt was made just after 11 o’clock at high tide to refloat the Port Bowen at Wanganui, ..dhe tug there, and the Anchor Company’s Rata participating, but it was not successful.

The Port Bowen is almost fully loaded, and is drawing 29 feet. Most ofi.tjhe cargo is refrigerated, but there is a quantity ?of general Cargo, and some of this is to be unloaded this afternoon, enough, it is stated, considerably to lighten the vessel. Another attempt to refloat her will be made at 11 o’clock to-nigh,t by which time the Terawhiti should also be there. The Terawhiti left Wellington later than was expected.

FURTHER EFFORT TO-NIGHT.

a WELLINGTON, July 19.

The Terawhiti left at 1 p.m. Another refloating attempt will be made abcut A midnight.

Apparently the Port Bowen, is- on a sandy bottom. Officials of the company are optimistic of her being freed to-night.