SHIP IN STORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 30 March 1936, Page 7

SHIP IN STORM

DECK CARGO IN DANGER AEROPLANE AND FITTINGS (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, 27tli March. The manoeuvring of his vessel to prevent a large aeroplane and its fittings from breaking adrift on tile deck and going overboard during the recent cyclonic storm-was carried out successfully by Captain S. Reed, master. of the Union Company’s motorship Hauraki, which arrived from Los Angeles tonight. The vessel ran into a gale on Thursday night. The storm severely buffeted the Hauraki, which rolled heavily in the trough of high seas. Waves frequently broke on board, but very little damage was done on deck. Lashed across the No. 3 hatch was the body of a large Douglas aeroplane, weighing 4g tons, and the wings of the machine were in a case weighing five tons lashed across No.- 2 hatch, the aeroplane's engines being in the hold. The case of the wings is 33ft 6in long and 15ft high, Both case and aeroplane were exposed to the full force of the storm, and the rolling of the vessel threatened to tear them from their lashings. To minimise the danger of losing the aeroplane overboard the captain hove the Hauraki to for seven hours. The aeroplane will he unloaded at Melbourne to be used in the MelbourneTasmania air service when assembled, and with her crew and 14 passengers as well as mail on hoard, the machine s weight will he 12 tons.