SALVAGE REWARD FOR PALANA: CREW MAY BENEFIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1948, Page 3

SALVAGE REWARD FOR PALANA: CREW MAY BENEFIT

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Oct. J 5. The question of the salvage reward for the Palana’s tow of the Fernmoor was discussed when the two met for the first time this afternoon at a notary’s office. Before the tow was taken both accepted Lloyd’s standard form of salvage agreement.■ The papers were signed today, and the matter will go before an arbir trator. 1

Members of the crew of the Palana are keenly interested.in the subject, but no indication was available today even -of the approximate extent to which they will benefit.

When an award is made in circumstances in which the salving ship has been the chief instrument in making the salvage, her owners receive about three-quarters of the amount. The master frequently is given one-third of the balance and the officers and crew generally share in the remaining sum, according to their ratings. “This is the third time I have been towed,” said the master of the Fernmoor (Captain F. B. Lamb) in an interview. “The next time I hope I will be on the other end of the rope and break the record.”

Captain Lamb thanked the master of the Palana for his assistance. “The Palana did a particularly good job in difficult conditions,” he said. “The co-operation I received from the master was first-rate.” He said he had met Captain F. R. Spurr personally today for the first time, although they had been neighbours for three weeks. “We soon found we had a lot more in common than we thought,” captain Lamb remarked. “Not only are we both natives of Nottinghamshire, but we : also served our time in the same sailing ship company, ‘John Stewart’s of Glasgow.’ ” Paying tribute to his own officers and crew, Captain Lamb said they worked exceptionally well throughout a trying experience. He referred particularly to the work of the chief officer (Mr F. K. Venus) and the wireless operator (Mr F. Mascharenhas). The latter and the operator on the Palana worked six-hour shifts between them, sending routine messages as well as keeping in touch with the shore.'