THE C. A. LARSEN

Grey River Argus, 27 February 1928, Page 5

THE C. A. LARSEN

STILL FAST AGROUND. INVERCARGILL, February 26. ’lbere is. no alteration in the position ot the C. A. Larsen. She is stil hard and fa-U aground, but it is siaimi that, providing the weather keeps g“O 1 and without the strong easterly there will be no difficulty in raising the vessel. The balance of her cargo ot oil will be removed, and oil tankers are re ported to have been chartered for that purpose. . . Divers who went down at the end of last Week had sonic difficulty m estimating the damage, owing to faults in the diving suits, which leaked bad Iv but thev reported that the ship was holed in three places, two forward on the starboard side, and one att. lhe forward holes arc large, being twelve feet bv ten feel, and ten feet by eigli. about ’six feet by eight feet. The extent. of the damage to that part of the vessel’s hull is embedded ill sand, and is not known. As soon as the oil is discharged, pumping will be proceeded with at lull capacitv. and collision mats will be placed 'over the holes until the vessel can be taken up to the base, and out of the likelihood of heavy weather. The Bluff Harbour Board’s dredge, Murihiku. on arrival at the inlet from Dunedin, will grapple for an am-lior that was cut away from the C.A. Larsen shortly after she struck the lock, and will probably assist in pumping pe rations. The tug Dunedin is still alongside the damaged vessel, engaged in pumping. though progress appears to be very slow. Two divers went down on Saturday morning, but as yet their report has not been made puldie. An interesting passenger on the damaged vessel is Mr Konow, one of the Directors of the Company, who joined the ship in the United States. There is every prospect that about 50 900 barrels of oil will be saved, the loss not being as severe as at first reported. The weather at Stewart Island was warm and fine on Saturday, but it is cold and squally to-day.

INSURED FOR HALF A MILLION STERLING.

(Sun Cable.) LONDON, February 24. The City is interested in the fate of the whaler C. A. Larsen. The total insurance on the ship and cargo exceed £500,900. The rate fell to 33 on Wednesday,'and is now 25. The owners arc chartering n oil tanker to re-shin the cargo.