Australia Seeks Wooden Ship

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1948, Page 5

Australia Seeks Wooden Ship

MELBOURNE, Tue. (11 a.m.).—Australia is conducting preliminary negotiations in the United States and Britain for the purchase of a wooden ship of about 1500 tons to replace the Antarctic expedition ship Wyatt Earp, now returning in a leaking condition after setting out on the first stages of an Antarctic cruise.

The reasons for the negotiations are stated to be that the Wyatt Earp is not big or fast enough, and that exploratory and scientific work will be limited unless another ship can be obtained. Unofficial sources claim that the ship is "hogged’—drooping at stem and stern —and that she is unrepairable. She is due at Melbourne tomorrow afternoon. “WYATT EARP A BARGAIN The spending of dollars on a new vessel will be avoided if possible, but $150,000 has been mentioned as the possible purchase price. The Wyatt Earp cost the Federal Government £4500, with two aeroplanes thrown in, when she was purchased from the Lincoln Ellsworth expedition. Refitting and modernising her for the latest expedition has been costly. If a suitable vessel can be obtained overseas it may be possible to send an expedition to the Antarctic in her in 1949, depending on the extent of the refitting necessary. RISK OF ICE DAMAGE A wcoden ship is needed because of the risk of damage by ice. Shipping men claim that the immediate past record of the Wyatt Earn does not suggest her suitability for polar work. Apart from the present leaking hull her deck and planking were opened in a storm between Melbourne and Hobart several weeks ago. If satisfactory repairs cannot be completed before the end of this month the schedules for the Wyatt Earn this year may have to be abandoned.