Flood Sweeps Ship To Sea At Launching

Northern Advocate, 15 January 1948, Page 5

Flood Sweeps Ship To Sea At Launching

SYDNEY, Thur. (11 a.m.) —When a 150-ton ship intended for the Islands trade was being launched near Sydney, she was gripped by flood waters and, with 25 people on board, was washed out to sea.

As the craft entered the water the flood surged down creek and broke the wire ropes holding her to the shore. The powerless hull, with women and children aboard, was driven half a mile downsteam, out over the bar and into Jervis Bay, where heavy seas, whipped up by a south-easterly gale, were breaking. A man dived overboard in an attempt to take the line ashore, but the people were unable to get a line to him.

British Shipbuilding

LONDON. Wed. (1.15 p.m.)—The Government intention of imposing a steel cut of 20 per cent for shipbuilding was that the cut should hot affect ships meant for the carrying trade, which would earn dollars, but should affect ships which might be built for sale in soft currency areas, according to information received by the Associated Press from an authoritative source.

Two rowing boats, which attempted to take lines out from Kallala Beach, were capsized in the surf and trawlers could not get near the drifting vessel because of heavy seas. Eventually she went ashore on Kallala Beach and the involuntary passengers were able to slide down a rope into the shallows. The builders are faced rvith a second launching from a very difficult position.