Waikouaiti Ashore Near Bluff

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1939, Page 6

Waikouaiti Ashore Near Bluff

[Special to “Northern A.dvocate ”] INVERCARGILL, This Day.

The Union Steamship ' Company’s inter-colonial vessel Waikouaiti ran aground near Bluff at about nine o’clock last night, and is still hard and last.

The steamer was on a voyage from Sydney to Dunedin. The first information that something was wrong was contained in .a wireless message from the ship’s master, Captain D. Bruce, to the harbourmaster at Bluff (Captain N. W. Haszard), who was on his way back from Dunedin at the time. Launch Recalled. The message w.as passed on to the board’s secretary (Mr R. N. Porter). Captain Haszard arrived at Bluff just after the 'harbour board; pilot launch had sot out to look for the Waikouaiti, and the launch was recalled by Morse signals to enable Captain Haszard to go on board. The Waikouaiti, formerly the Irmgard, is a steamer of 3926 gross tons. She was built at Rostock. Germany, in 1914. For many years she has been engaged on the Wellington-Lyttelton-Dunedin-Bluff-Melbourne cargo service of the Union Steamship Company.

No Lives Lost.

The Waikouaiti ran ashore on the south-west corner of Dog Island, Foveaux Straits, in a fog at 9 o'clock last night. No lives were lost. The vessel struck the rocks off Dog Island 150 yards out. At high water the forepart of the

ship was 7ft. under water, while the stern was high in the air, showing the propellers. The vessel will probably be a total loss.

The cargo of hardwood poles, sleepers and steel from Port Kembla and Newcastle, however, will probably be salvaged by the steamers Goel and Waitaki which are scheduled to arrive at Bluff this afternoon. The crew of 25 took to the lifeboats with their personal effects and were towed to Bluff by a harbour board launch arriving at 9 o’clock this morning. No Salvage Problems, The marine superintendent of the Union Company at Dunedin (Captain King) and other officials left Bluff in a launch at 11 a.rn. to make an inspection of the ship. Salvage of the cargo will present no great difficulty if the weather remains calm, but the ship will be in a precarious position if the sea becomes rough.

Dog Island is three miles from Bluff. -

It is half a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide.

On the highest point, which is 50ft. above sea level, is a lighthouse tower which is 150 ft, high. • Only the light keepers and their families live there.