SHIP STRIKES ROCK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 279, 9 November 1931, Page 9

SHIP STRIKES ROCK

STANDING OF PAKURA SUCCESSFUL SALVAGE. DAMAGE APPARENTLY SLIGHT Wellington, Nov. 8. At ab ut 2 p.m. yesterday the Richardson Company’s Pakura ran on the rocks a few miles north of Cape Palliser. To-day she was salvaged by the tug Toia, and is now being towed to port by the tug. The Pakura was making for the roadstead to load wool from liiddiford Bros.’ station when she struck a reef about half a mile from the shore. The vessel was found to be hard and fast, and wireless messages were sent for assistance. The sea was not rough and some of the crew came ashore in a boat, Afterwards they returned.

The tug Toia left Wellington on Saturday evening and arrived off the stranded vessel after midnight. The PareTa, another Richardson vessel, which left Lyttelton on Saturday night, arrived on the scene before noon. At 4 p.m. to-day the Pakura floated off the reef and the Toia commenced the tow to Wellington. Unsuccessful attempts to float the ship off were made about 2 a.m. The reef on which the vessel was stuck is about half a mile off shore. Shortly before high tide this afternoon the Toia put a strain on the tow rope, and the swell released the Pakura.

The stranded vessel was apparently not seriously damaged, and did not ap pear to be making water when the tow commenced. The crew of the Pakura had been transferred to the Toia for safety prior to her release, but after tho vessel was clear of the reef the hands returned. The Anchor Line vessel Orepuki and the Parera were stand ing by when the Pakura was refloated.