COASTAL VESSEL IN JEOPARDY “WANGANELLA” DEMANDS DELAY SALVAGE OF STRANDED SHIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1949, Page 4

COASTAL VESSEL IN JEOPARDY “WANGANELLA” DEMANDS DELAY SALVAGE OF STRANDED SHIP

MELBOURNE, This Day (Rec. 10.55 a.m.). —A dispute similar to that which involved the>tugs in the Wellington harbour when the liner Wanganella was on Barrett’s Reef is delaying the attempts to salvage the coastal steamer Time, which ground-, ed yesterday morning on Corsair reef inside Port Phillip heads. Argument over the rates to be paid to the tug crews prevented any efforts by the tugs yesterday or last night, though the ship was being buffeted by heavy seas and in imminent danger of breaking up. The tugs concerned are the Eagle and the former Wellington vessel, Terawhiti, which figured in the salvaging of the Wanganella. The two crews refused to proceed to the stranded ship, unless guaranteed emergency rates amounting to £ 5 daily with 10s 6d hourly overtime. Owners Agree

Later the owners agreed to pay these rates, but the Terawhiti did not move then because of a shortage of bunkering coal. The dispute prevented the tugs from being ready to go at the flood tide. Forty members of the ship’s crew of 44 were taken off last night, leaving only a salvage team to man the pumps. Arrangements have been made for a salvage attempt at high tide today. Captain J. P. Williams, who salvaged the gold from the Niagara in 1940 and who has saved a million pounds worth of shipping in Australian and New Zealand waters is in charge of the operations.

The transfer of the crew from the stranded ship to a lifeboat provided tense moments, but was accomplished without injury. The lifeboat waited for a lull in the seas and ran into the lee of the vessel. Crew members, wearing life jackets and without boots, leapt to the lifeboat as opportunity offered. Though the land was only 600 yards away the lifeboat was forced to make

an eight-mile trip to Queenscliffe because of the rough weather. An inspection has revealed that the accident occurred because the shackle of a block in the steering gear carried away in a fair sea and a moderate westerly which took her -onto the reef.' The steering gear has been repaired in readiness for the salvage attempts. . The crew manned the pumps and managed to keep the water down to 16 feet in No. 2 hold.

May Obstruct Entrance It is feared that, if the Time breaks up in her present position, the wreckage will partially obstruct the entrance to Port Phillip heads. Five vessels are already standing off the heads awaiting permission to pass the stranded freighter. The Time, which is owned by Howard Smith Ltd, was built in 1913 and saw service in two wars. She was narrowly missed by air attacks when assisting the landings at Milne Bay.