Ship Heavily Down By Bow

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1947, Page 5

Ship Heavily Down By Bow

The Wanganella came off Barrett’s Reef, where she has been stranded since January 19, about 9.15 o’clock last night, and successfully berthed at Aotea quay at 11.30 p.m., having been towed up the harbour by the Wellington tug Toia. The weather was overcast and still except for a light northerly breeze. Heavily down by the bow—from the shore the water seemed almost up to her well-deck —the liner began her anxious tow to the inner harbour. She went stern first, the Toia continuing to pull and the tug Terawhiti moving in on the starboard bow. Moving in at no more than two knots, the Wanganella gradually lost way till, about 20 minutes after coming off the rocks she stopped dead. Fears among the still-watching crowds that she might have to be beached proved groundless. After 15 minutes at a standstill she began to move .again. Increased Speed. By 10 p.m., the Wanganella was abreast of Eastbourne, moving at two and a half to three knots. It was estimated then that it -would take at least two hours more to bring her to the safety of the quay. By 11 p.m., however, the Wanganella was within a quarter of a mile of the wharf. About 11.30 p.m. the brightly-ht liner was brought to her berth at the northern end of Aoteq quay. ’ Towed bow first, she came in to the quay without a hitch. She used her own screws and was drawing about 36 feet forward. The screws were threshing as she came along-

side, and half her rudder could be seen.. She had a list to port of between 5 -to 10 degrees. Her forward well deck, which on the way in seemed almost level with the water, was below the jetty. Pumps were going, and pumping will be continued with wharfside pumps to reduce the draught before the ship can be towed into place on the floating dock, where everything is ready to receive her. The Terawhiti was pulling the ship with a line on to her bows, and the Kahanui was alongside. The Wanganella’s air compressors set up a steady roar, but her main engines did not appear to operate until she slowed herself, as the mooring lines went ashore. When she tied up, her forecastle was level with the wharf, and the forward hatches were well below. Many spectators who climbed fences had to be kept clear of the wharf’s edge while the ship made fast. There were only five or six feet of freeboard between the water and the hawser holes on the foredeck. Minister’s Congratulations. Pleasure at the refloating of the Wanganella was expressed to-night by the Minister of Marine (Mr. J. O’Brien). “I am mighty pleased that she is off,” he said. He congratulated everyone who had worked hard to salvage the ship. It was very satisfying for those who had worked so hard and so long to save the ship to know that their efforts had been crowned with success, he said.