MISHAP TO A STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 4

MISHAP TO A STEAMER.

BESSA STRIKES A ROCK.

FORWARD HOLD FLOODED.

SHIP BERTHS AT WELLINGTON. [BT TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. While endeavouring to enter port on Friday evening, the Norwegian steamer Bern struck a rock. The vessel commenced to make a little water, but the inflow was controlled. After the vessel arrived at an anchorage in the stream, however, it was discovered that the ship's pumps could not keep down the water. Appeals for assistance were immediately sent by wireless, and this was followed by prolonged intermittent blasts of tho ship's siren. This gave cause for general alarm throughout the city, and a large ciowd immediately thronged to the waterfront. Next-of-kin of soldiers on tho troopship Ka:koura, which is lying in the stream, were very concerned, for it was thought that there was trouble on that vessel. Many flocked to the wharf hatless, but their fears were quickly allayed. There appears to he some doubt as to exactly where the Bessa ttruck, for although first reports stated that she was in Chaffers Passage at the time, it is now understood that she was in the main channel, and that her port side hit the outlying part of Barrett's Reef. The master, Captain D. Arnesen, picked up some lights off Wellington and steamed ahead. A pilot was asked for by signal to Beacon Hill station, and soon afterwards the vessel struck. The impact was not great, and investigations showed she fas making comparatively little water. Continuing up the harbour, the ship picked up the pilot and caine to an! anchor in the stream. The steamer's I pumps held the water until at out 10 p.m. on Friday, when it was found they were losing ground. Assistance was summoned by wireless, and by prolonged blasts of the eyren, and the tugs Karaka and Pelican went out to assist the vessel, as she appeared to bo sinking by the bow. But ultimately the ship, under her own steam, came to the Queen's Wharf, where she made fast soon after midnight. When the Bessa was making the harbour entrance she was drawing 24ft 6in, but yesterday morning her draught was over 30ft. The engineroom pumps kept I the water down throughout the morning. An investigation of the damage was made by a diver yesterday morning. Tho first two descents did not bear out the original fear that the vessel had been holed, the diver reporting that all ho could discover at that time was that a number of rivets had been started. This was confirmed to-day. The Bessa is expected to be pumped dry by to-night, and the discharge' of No. 1 hold, which had 21ft of water, is expected to be completed to-morrow night. The only cargo damaged is a quantity of ' paper and hardware for Australia. The discharge of the cargo in No. 2 hold has been discontinued, as it has been found to be unnecessary. The watereiders engaged in working the cargo are being paid at salvage rates.

The Beßsa is owned by the Norwegian, African, and Australian Steamship Company, of Tonsberg, Norway, and is tho latest addition to their fleet of 10 steamers, all of much about the same size. The Befsa is a eteel screw steamer, of 5948 tons gross, and 3606 net, and is of recent construction. Her launching took place in August, 1917, at the yards of the Union Iron Works Company, Alameda, California. Like all metal vessels built in America during the last few years, the Bessa is fitted with all the latest mechanical and engineering appliances that make for her safety and speed, and for the convenience and comfort of both officers and crew. Among the most modern of her engineering features is her oil-burning machinery. The principal dimensions of the vessel are Length 410 9ft; breadth, 56.2 ft; and depth,'l 29 4ft. There is on board a crew of 36 all told. I