REFLOATED IN TIME TO SAVE DESTRUCTION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6669, 24 July 1928, Page 9

REFLOATED IN TIME TO SAVE DESTRUCTION

STEAMER GROUNDS APTER ; BREAKING MOORING LINE. PERILOUS TIME AT NAPIER. Per Press Association. NAPIER, Last Night, The breaking of a mooring ■ line when endeavouring 10. shift; tho Rickardson and Company’s steamer Pukeko (735 tons) from one berth to another in the Inner Harbour this afternoon resulted in the vessel drifting helplessly in the channel until she grounded in a dangerous position near the entrance to tho harbour. When the vessel first moved she had no steam up and thus was unable to resist the tide when tho cables parted. W'hcn tho engines were requisitioned after stranding, a cable from an assisting vessel, fouled one propeller of the Pukeko, the other one being later put out of action by being also fouled. -It was dead low tide at' tho time and the vessel was dangerously near the rocks at the side of the channel. With tho incoming tide one propeller was started in reverse and this freed the obstruction. . By this means and with tho assistance of another vessel, the Pukeko floated off and regained her berth at 7.15 p.m., about four hours after leaving it. She was apparently undamaged, although she bumped considerably at ona stage