SHIP TO BE BEACHED

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1947, Page 4

SHIP TO BE BEACHED

REPAIR WORK ON THE WANGANELLA MOVE TO CLYDE QUAY . (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. It is proposed to move the Wanganella from her present berth to Clyde quay on Thursday morning, about 10 o’clock. She will go at high water under her own power with the assistance of tugs, and will be run as far up on the beach as possible. A pilot will be aboard. . This information was given by one of the salvage experts, who added that it was essential that the vessel should be beached so that the seals of Nos. 2 and 3 holds could be broken. Because the buoyancy gained by these two holds was the only thing keeping the bow of the ship off the bottom, she must obviously be beached before necessary repairs could be effected. It was hoped that the repairs would give sufficient buoyancy to allow the vessel to be floated on to the dock. Drawing 25ft. To-day the ship was drawing 25ft 9in forward. Extra buoyancy had been gained by pumping No. 3 hold dry, and by plugging up the leaks in No. 2 hold. The vessel has a list to port of only 3 degrees. All lifeboats have been taken off the ship to increase her stability by reducing the wind resistance and her top weight. The boats will be preserved better under the cover of a shed than they would be if they were left on the deck for the long period it is expected the repairs of the ship will take. Reports which circulated to-day that the port anchor had been discovered wrapped in the bow plating were misleading. The anchor was known to be there by the salvage experts while the vessel was lying on the reef. Preparations are being made to cut this anchor adrift with an underwater cutting torch, but it cannot be achieved until “tips” for the torch arrive from Sydney. Two methods to help in raising the bow have been the removal of the anchors and cables from the feepeak (a weight of approximately 45 tons), and the pumping of 196 tons of fresh water into the after peak. This was done soon after the vessel had tied up at Aotea quay. Company’s Message. Sincere thanks to the Government and all concerned in the refloating ot the Wanganella were expressed in a cabled message received by the Prime Minister (Mr. fl( ® the head office of the Huddart 1 arkei Company, Melbourne. The Prime Minister has replied as follows:—“Congratulations °n the refloating of the Wanganella Yom message will be conveyed to the Government departments and otheis concerned. I trust the ship will not long be out of commission, and thm she will soon resume her v a lu^ ble service to the Australian and New Zealand public.”