CARGO SHIP STRANDED

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 28 May 1932, Page 6

CARGO SHIP STRANDED

KAPONGA ON GREY BAR EFFORTS AT FLOTATION EARLY ATTEMPTS FAIL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, May :

The Union Company’s cargo steamer Kaponga, 2344 tons gross, when sailing with a full cargo of coal this afternoon for Auckland became stranded on the Grey Bar, where she now lies waiting an effort at to-morrow morning’s tide, about 5 o’clock, to refloat her. Equipped with three cylinder triple engines and a single screw the vessel, which is about six years old, is a sister ship to the Kartigi and the Kiwitea. She carries a company of 33, including Captain Gray? Chief Officer T, E. Bevan, Second Officer W. B. Gibson, Third Officer L. Clarke and Chief Engineer Dilner. The depth of the bar was 22 feet when the Kaponga sailed, and the vessel was drawing 18 feet 6 inches. She was preceded to the sea at a short interval by the steamer Kalingo, which was not fully loaded but bad a good passage. Where the Kaponga struck was opposite the signal station, and she subsequently moved) out a distance of about twice her length. Thd sea jvas quite moderate but the vessel’s how was gradually veered to the northward by the" swell and she then lay across "the inner bar, there being a second bar further out. RUDDER HANGING LOOSE. The Harbour Board’s tug raised steam and arrived at the ship s side three-quarters of an hour after the stranding. The Kalingo was meantime standing by in the roadstead but was unable *to render assistaee. The tug | got a line to the Kaponga’s stern but under the strain it broke. A crash was then heard and as the Kaponga’s stern rose the rudder was seen to be broken and hanging loose. The Anchor steamer Titoki then lett the wharf and safely negotiated the bar, passing the Kaponga’s stern. The Titoki threw but'a line to be attached to the Kaponga, but the line was lost and after standing by some time the Titoki proceeded to Westport. Ihe tug retrieved the broken hawser and from the bow of the Kaponga a line was carried by a boat to the tug, which went up river, the strain serving to keep the Kaponga’s bow from veering towards the rocks on the north tiphead. ' The vessel began to leak as a result of pivoting amidships on the sandbank, but though four feet of water was reported in the fore and aft compartments the pumps are now coping with the water. ACROSS INNER BAR.

The Kaponga lies at present hard and fast across the inner bar, her bow pointing towards the north tiphead, which is' about 50 feet distant. There fortunately is little or no sea and no indications of any, so that there is considered to be a even chance of refloating the vessel on the morning tide. All aboard are safe. The position of the Kaponga showed little alteration at 10.30 p.m. The vessel was then lying hard and fast. Probably the hull will be somewhat strained as the how is down to some extent and the stern raised. The vessel's cargo was about 2900 tons of It has been ascertained that the Kalingo, which was drawing a foot less than the Kaponga touched and whistled when she sailed about half an hour earlier. The bar at 1.30 p.m. was sounded, Captain Grey being present. The depth then was 13 feet, indicating 21 feet 9 inches at high water, on the peak of which the Kaponga reached the bar.

CREW REMAINING ON BOARD. All the crew are remaining on hoard. Nev-s was received that the Tug Terawhiti left Wellington to-night and is not expected before 11 o’clock to-mor-row night. Captain V. Webb, the Union Company’s marine superintendent. arrives to-morrow afternoon. At high tide to-morrow morning an attempt will he made to hold the vessel in position and arrange for any change in the conditions. In the meantime the local tug has left the Kaponga, which is not suffering from the seasthe wind being off the shore. Captain Cox, the harbourmaster, stated that the Kaponga left the wharf at 3.4-5 so as to he on the bar at the top of high water. There was then a considerable swell. She whistled once, indicating a bump. He thought she was clear hut then it appealed she was struck amidships.

TUG LEAVES WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, May 28. The tug Terawhiti left for Greymouth at 1.45 this morning.