Waikouaiti Believed Doomed

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1939, Page 3

Waikouaiti Believed Doomed

[Per Press Association. Copyright .l INVERCARGILL, This Day.

The Union Company's steamer Waikouaiti, which went aground on Dog Island, three miles from Bluff, in a heavy fog on Tuesday evening, when bound for Lyttelton from Sydney, is now hard and fast on the rocks. The vessel seems to be doomed.

It is exposed to the mercy of the elements but how soon the sea will take its toll depends on the weather. As long as the weather is fair, the vessel can be expected to remain in the present position, tilted on the bow. which is towards the north-west, with the stern well clear of the water. The vessel has a list of about 25 degrees to port. Cnee a westerly storm breaks, the ship may soon break up. Already there is considerable water in the forward holds, and it seems only a matter of time before it reaches the stokehold..

The crew were never in danger, and were landed at Bluff yesterday morning. Thirty-eight bags of Australian mail were also brought on the launch.

The members of the crew had little to say about what happened after the ship struck the x’oeks. No Excitement.

It is stated, however, that there was no undue excitement, and that once it was realised the ship was hard and fast, the men calmly waited until they could be taken off in the morning. There was, it was stated, no big crash as the ship struck, but it was soon apparent that it was considerably damaged. Water entered No. 1 and No. 2 holds, and the vessel began to tilt a little. A gentle swell caused a slight movement of the ship, the grinding of the hull on the rocks causing some to wonder whether it would slip over the ledge, but it was firmly held.

Numerous rockets were fired to attract attention, and although the explosions were heard by some residents cl Bluff, few, if any, realised that they indicated that a ship was in distress. Tug Ordbr Rescinded. At first sight it seemed that there was every prospect of refloating the ship, and instructions were sent to Bluff to order the tug Awarua, which is at Port Chalmers for overhaul, to put to sea as soon as possible. A further inspection of the stranded ship revealed that it was opening, and that the water was entering the forward hold. It was then apparent that any attempt to refloat it was doomed to failure. The previous instructions in regard to the tug were then cancelled. / The Waikouaiti was in charge of Captain J. Bruce, who has spent more than 40 years at sea without previously experiencing a serious mishap. For more than 20 years he has been in command of ships of the Union Company. The total complement was 43. *