LOSS OF A TRAWLER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 150, 9 June 1933, Page 7

LOSS OF A TRAWLER

SUDDEN INRUSH OF WATER.

CREW PICKED UP BY LAUNCH

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. GISBORNE, Juno 9. i The complement of the lost trawler Serfib had the best of fortune in sighting the riding lights of the fishing launch Hula while making their way to shore in a leaky dinghy after abandoning the vessel near Waipiro Bay. ,

This portion of the coast is noted for its past shipping tragedies and a landing through the surf would have been a perilous proceeding under prevailing conditions.

The Huia had left Tokomaru Bay the previous night to seek shelter in Orange Bay Cove, at the southern extremity of the open bay, and the owner, Mr Jack Brennan, noted the appearance of the Serfib during the afternoon about five miles off-shore. The trawler’s bows were then high and the stern down, indicating the possibility of distress, but no signals were flying. Three hours later the Serfib’s crew drew alongside the launch Huia and Mr Brennan conveyed them to Tokomaru Bay, a distance of 10 miles, landing there at 9.15 p.m. The distressed mariners hoped to proceed to Auckland to-day by the Margaret W, the coasting motor vessel.

Reports from various points along the coast north of Waipiro Bay indicate that the vessel was not sighted during the night or early morning, confirming Captain Flett’s opinion that the Serfib did not survive long after abandonment. Captain Flett, a trawling master of a lifetime’s experience in Home and New. Zealand waters, knows the coast well and fully realised the peril of attempting a landing on the open, bay shor but the condition of the trawler left no alternative. The water gained on the pumps at the rate of eight feet in half an hour, and the ship was wallowing in the trough of the heavy swell with occasional seas sweeping over when last seen. The captain had no doubt that she would sink in a short time. DIFFICULTY IN LAUNCHING DINGHY, Difficulty was experieced in launching the dinghy, which, owing to the lurching of the stricken trawler, was damaged on the deck fittings while being put over the side and had to be bailed constantly during the long journey to the shore. The crew and officers saved nothing, abandonment being left to the last moment of safety. The complement comprised Captain Flett; the mate, Mr Black; the engineer, Mr Samuels; deckhands, Jennings, More and Whettaway; firemen, Elliott, Taylor, Howlett; a cook, Henderson. The skipper is certain that the trawler struck nothing and the only theory to account for the sudden inrush of water was the breaking of a seacock under tho engine-room. The three pumps failed to keep the water in check and half an hour after the first alarm tho fires wore put out and the steam released as a precaution.