ARRIVES AT WESTPORT

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 8

ARRIVES AT WESTPORT

Battered by high seas for more than . 30 hours, the Holm Shipping Company’s 252-ton coastal vessel, Holmlea, was towed safely into Westport at 5 a.m. yesterday, leaking badly, with water high in the engine room and’ stokehold. In the rough conditions, the vessel’s successful rescue by the Westport Harbour tug, James O’Brien, was a marine epic, and the success of the tug and her crew deserve great credit, as do the master of the Holmlea, Captain McCormick, and his crew of 18, who were almost exhausted after their long and trying ordeal. WELL-EARNED REST Soon after the Holmlea’s arrival alongside the wharf, the crew were accommodated in Westport for _ a well-earned rest. Sleep had been impossible after the leak developed, with the crew standing by, and even the bunk boards had been used as fuel, in an effort to keep steam up after the bunkers became flooded. The first signs of trouble were observed when water started to cover the stokehold plates, which are at least four feet above the bilges. The work of pumping water from the vessel by two pumps of the Westport Fire Brigade yesterday morning was hampered by coal blocking the water into the sump in the stokehold. However, by noon, the water had been almost expelled from the ship, and an inspection is to be made of the hold to assess the extent of the damage. IN HEAVY SEAS The James O’Brien, in command of Captain A. R. Ness, harbourmaster at Westport, crossed the Westport bar at 3 a.m. on Sunday, and it was found that the Holmlea had been driven further north than expected. In spite of poor visibility, the tug located the crippled Holmlea about 15 miles north of Westport, floundering in the heavy seas only about three miles off shore from Granity. The James O’Brien and the Holmlea reached the Westport roadstead at mid-day on Sunday, with heavy seas still running. As the Holmlea’s draught had been increased from 14ft lOins to something over 15 feet by the amount of water which she had shipped, it was considered that the margin was too small to attempt the bar crossing at low water, and at high water, about 5 p.m., there was a further misfortune, the tow-line parting as the vessels approached the bar.

IN It was then decided that the Holmlea should drop her anchors and wait

until yesterday morning’s tide, in a comparatively safe anchorage in the Westport roadstead, about half a mile off shore. The James O’Brien returned to her shortly after 4 o’clock, and although there had been some moderation of the seas, there was still a heavy swell of five to six feet on the Westport bar. A tow-line was secured, without great difficulty, and as the Holmlea slipped her anchors, which had held her throughout the night, the tug took the strain and brought her safely into the Westport harbour. The crippled vessel crossed the bar at 5.30 a.m., and was tied up at the wharf at 6.30. Throughout last night, the crew of the Holmlea fought the encroaching, waters in the engine-room and stokehold with buckets, and kept their position from worsening, although there was probably a slight gain of water in the vessel. The water was deepest in the stokehold, and it was clear that the vessel had taken in many tons of water. It is hoped that it will be possible to effect repairs at Westport to enable the Holmlea to continue her voyage before being placed on a slip. If the damage is more serious, it is possible that her coal cargo will have to be unloaded at Westport and temporary repairs made to enable the Holmlea to be towed to Nelson for repairs on the slip there. High tributes have been paid to the work of the master of the salvage tug, Captain Ness, and his crew. The tow was accomplished in the face _of extremely difficult conditions, with the Holmlea absolutely helpless.