LINER ASHORE.

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1926, Page 5

LINER ASHORE.

PORT KEMBLA’S FATE. Gloomy Report. LONDON, July 20. The Commonwealth and Dominion line steamer Port Kembla, is stranded on a reef near San Salvador Island, Cuba, and is in a bad way. She is leaking in No. 2 hold. Continued efforts to refloat her have failed owing to the slack tides, despite discharging coal and trimming the cargo. The salvagers now propose to remove the wet cargo. The weather is fine. WELLINGTON, July 21. The local agents of the Commonwealth Line have received cabled advice from the London office, to the effect that the position concerning the Port Kembla is worse. The vessel has 18ft of water in all but Nos. 1 and 5 holds. Salvage operations arc likely to be somewhat lengthy. Whatever sound cargo remains is in a very precarious position. The Port Kembla’s New Zealand passengers were taken to Colon on the Playfellow, and will travel from Colon to New Zealand on the Corinthic, which left London on July 17th, and is due at Auckland on August 23. DUNEDIN, July 21.

It is known tnat private cablegrams received stated that the vessel was making water in Nos. 1,2, 3, and 5 holds. At that time coal was being jettisoned in order to lighten up the steamer with the object of towing her off. The Port Kembla’s cargo included a large consignment of new Season’s drapery goods for the D.S.A. A cablegram received by the manager of the D.S.A. from London reads as follows: Lloyd’s bulletin regarding the Port Kembla is gloomy; consider cargo practically lost.” REINSURANCE RATE RAISED HIGH. (Reed. July 21 at 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. The reinsurance rate on the Port Kembla, which yesterday was twelve guineas per cent, is fifty guineas to day.