UNABLE TO BERTH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22407, 14 August 1947, Page 6

UNABLE TO BERTH

VESSEL AT TOKOMARU HEAVY COASTAL SWELL A heavy south-easterly swell which has beer rolling into Tokomaru Bay lor tiie past five days has prevented the berthing of the Totara, which arrived on Saturday from Westport with a cargo of coal. The harbourmaster at Tokomaru Bay Captain S. J. Plummer, said yesterday tiiat the swell was a must unusual one. The usual swell resulting from a strung southerly wind lasted two days, and all that he could put this swell down to was a cyclonic disturbance far out at sea which had stirred up the water and caused the heavy ground swell.

The weather at Tokomaru Bay dur ing the past few days has been good yet yesterday the swell gave little evidence ol abating, the water had been lapping up under the planks oi the wharf which meant that the water was about Bft above its normal level. A vessel could be berthed at the Tokomaru Bay wharf when a slight swell was running, but it was hopeless to try to bring a vessel alongside when anything li cc the present swell was coming into the bay. The Totara arrived at Tokomaru Bay from Westport last Saturday and when it was seen that it would be impossible to berth the vessel for some time u was decided to return to Gisborne to pick up stores. This was done, the vessel returning on Monday morning to Tokomaru Bay. where she was at anchor until yesterday morning. In order to take on more stores, the Totara returned to Gisborne yesterday, berthing at 1 p.m. Her cargo of coal will be unloaded at at Gisborne, the vessel then returning to the South Island for another cargo for Tokomaru Bay. The freezing works, which are the main users of (he coal on the East Coast, are in a fairly good position in regard to stocks.

A fairly heavy south-easterly to easterly swell has been coming into the Gisborne roadstead during the past few' days, but most of its force has been spent on the Muriwai side of (he bay.