WELL UNDER CONTROL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 2

WELL UNDER CONTROL

EXAMINATION OF DAMAGE TO WANGANELLA POSSIBLE MOVE TO-DAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 10 “We now have the Wanganella well under control, but there is a tremendous amount of work to be done to her. yet,” said Mr. J. Dilworth, the British consulting engineer on the salvage operations. “She is now drawing 28ft forward and 17ft lOin aft. We still have to reduce her draught, to 251 t or less.” The vessel is being prepared for the trip across to Clyde quay, where she will be put on the harbour bottom. This afternoon the diver, Mr. J. Johnstone, was examining a hole m the port side of No. 2 hold. “I do not think the vessel will be m a condition to be moved to-day,” said Mr. Dilworth, “but with any luck we will move her to-morrow. We are keeping the list on her purposely to prevent the water in Nos. 2 and 3 b°Ws from washing from side to side. We can put her on an even keel any time we wish.” No. 3 hold was now nearly dry, ne said, and although the tank tops had jbeen forced upwards to some extent, the leak was so slight that it could be handled with one pump. Nos. 1 and 2 holds are still sealed and kept full of compressed air, which keeps the level of the water down in No. 1 hold to eight feet below sea level, and in No. 2 to seven feet below sea level. To reduce the draught of the Wanganella sufficiently to allow her to enter the floating dock it would be necessary to expel still more watei’ from Nos. 1 and 2 holds, concluded Mr. Dilworth. To do this the vessel had to be beached on an even keel. When the seals of Nos. 1 and 2 holds could be broken men would enter the holds and assess the damage and necessary repairs., Patches would have to be placed over the holes, or coffer dams erected on the inside.