Wanganella Suffers Little Damage In Collision With Trawler

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1937, Page 5

Wanganella Suffers Little Damage In Collision With Trawler

(Received 10 a.rn.)

SYDNEY. December 28. THE WANGANELLA, WHICH WAS DAMAGED IN A COLLISION WITH A TRAWLER WHEN EN ROUTE FROM SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE, RETURNED TO SYDNEY SHORTLY AFTER. 3 P.M. LOOKING NONE THE WORSE FOR HER ADVENTURE.

At full steam she came to the wharf, where her Melbourne passengers ansierred to the inter-State liner Orungal, which sailed at 5 p.m. Reticence is being observed in regard to the collision, but it is understood the damage to the Wanganella was not serious. A few plates were sprung

and there is ( a slight leak

No casualties occurred and the passengers were net inconvenienced. The Buraween suffered hardly any damage and is due at Sydney about midnight. The Wanganella immediately went into dock and her sailing for Auckland has been postponed .from December 31 to January 3.

A Glancing Blew

The Wanganella was struck a glancing blow on the starboard side im-

mediately beiow the forward funnel. Two strakes above the water line and two be.ow were severed. Nine plates were dented and buckled. Water entered between the damaged plates, but the pumps were able to cope with it. Temporary repairs were made

by the chief engineer, Mr Wylie,

who was lowered over the side.

He bolted two plates along the upper damaged ntrake.

The Wanganella stood by the Buraween for some time, then altered her course back to Syuney, a distance of over 180 miles.

The Buraween is reported to have been holed in tho forepeak, and to be leaking.

Mr T. W, Parker, manager of the Huddart Parker Company, said he regarded the damage to the Wanganella as negligible. There was never at any time cause for anxiety. Visibility Normal.

At the time of the collision, visibility was normal, although some passengers assert that it was misty. The force of the impact hurled six stewards from their bunks immediately abaft the point of collision. A number of passengers hurried on deck' to ascertain the cause, and were immediately assured that there was no danger, but it was some time before the excitement quietened down.

Quite a number preferred not to return to their bunks. Fortunately, there was a relatively calm sea and it was a warm night, thus no discomfort was experienced by the passengers. A Lucky Escape When the Wanganella reached her berth in Sydney today, only 44 of the 108 passengers resumed the voyage to Melbourne by the Orungal. Some elected to go by tonight’s train. The remainder eliminated Melbourne from their holiday itinerary. No cause has so far been assigned for the collision.

The marine authorities are of the opinion that the Wanganella had a lucky escape, and that she was practically saved by a heavy bulkhead.

The Buraween, whose master is Captain Samuel Mills, carried a crew of 12.

Bows Buckled And Twisted. The trawler Buraween, which came into collision with the Huddart-Parker intercolonial liner Wanganella yesterday off Montague Island, on the New South Wales coast, berthed late last night. Her bows were buckled and twisted for about 6ft. Two members of the crew were injured by being thrown violently against parts of the ship when the collision occurred.

They were treated on return to port. Most of the other members of the crew were asleep at the

time of the accident and they were flung from their bunks.

Entrance to the wharf where the Buraween is berthed is forbidden, and those seamen who are left on the ship have observed strict reticence. They told press representatives that they had been forbidden to divulge any details of the collision.