STEAMERS ADRIFT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 June 1935, Page 4

STEAMERS ADRIFT

IN GREY RIVER OMANA AND KIWITEA PART FROM MOORINGS DANGER OF GOING ON BAR (By Telegraph—Press Association) GREYMOUTH, This Day. A serious mishap involving grave danger of disaster to two steamers, but fortunately unattended so far by any loss ol life, occurred at Greymouth yesterday morning. Tne steamers concerned were tlie Omana. loaded with timber for Melbourne, and the Kiwitea, coal laden for Wellington, both of which were ready for sea on Saturday, but were unable to leave owing to the heavy sea running on the bar.

According to advice received in Wellington there was a very strong Hood in the Grey river yesterday morning, the current running at a good ten knots. The Omana, wnieh was lying ahead of the Kiwitea, apparently had two cables out and secured to the wharf in addition to her other moorings. At about low tide one of the cables parted and the other bow moorings were carried away, and a heavy fresh in the liver caused the Oniana to set down wharf on the Kiwitea. The latter vessel, which apparentl had one cable out, then parted her moorings, and both ships went adrift in the fast running river. There was a grave danger of their drifting down river and getting into the heavy sea running on tlie bar, but. this fortunately was averted. The Omana went, aground on the north of the Cobden side of the Grey river, approximately half way between the two red beacons used by incoming ships when taking the bar. The Kiwitea also went aground on the tidal wall separating the lagoon from the river some distance below the Omana. Efforts are to be made this morning to refloat the ships. Probably the first attempt will be made on the Kiwitea with the object of getting her clear in case the Omana should break from her present position.

UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO REFLOAT GREYMOUTH, This Day. Efforts were made at four o’clock this morning to refloat the vessels, but two hawsers attached to the Kiwitea broke away on the winches being started, and an iron shackle on the Omana also carried away. The ships were unmoved. Nothing more -can be done until high tide at about 5 p.m., when further efforts will be made to refloat them. The Terawhiti is due at daylight tomorrow. CAPTAIN WEBB ON HIS WAY WELLINGTON. This Day. Captain Webb, Superintendent of the U.S.S. Company, went by aeroplane to Nelson to proceed overland for Greymouth, where he arrives to-night. Meantime the fresh in the Grey river has fallen to seven knots and probably will be down to five this afternoon. SALVAGE TUG DISPATCHED WELLINGTON, This Day. The Union Company’s salvage tug Terawhiti under the command of Captain W. Johnston was dispatched from Wellington for Greymouth early last evening in case her services were needed to refloat the stranded steamers Kiwitea and Omana. A number of extra hands were engaged for the trip and a large quantity of salvage gear was taken on board./ : •