STEAMER'S ROUGH TRIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 10

STEAMER'S ROUGH TRIP.

LONG VOYAGE FROM BELGIUM COLLISION WITH DERELICT. A SERIES OF MISFORTUNES. An eventful voyage of 86 days from Antwerp was made by the Belgian steamer Scheldepas, which arrived at Auckland on Friday night. The vessel's bad luck continued even after her arrival, because she was unable to berth until yesterday morning, owing to the easterly gale and rough seas in tho harbour, t The Scheldepas sailed from Antwerp on May 1 with a full cargo of basic slag for discharge at Auckland and Wellington. Off the Azores Islands sho encountered a severe north-west storm and high mountainous seas. For three days sho battled against the elements and waves repeatedly broke on board and carried away ventilators, ladders, wire hawser reels and other fittings. The vessel was then hove-to foe 16 hours to allow the crew to put additional fastenings on tho hatches and deck gear. When everything was secured the vessel was put stern to the wind and sea and for four days she ran before the storm. Off the Madeira Islands the storm abated and the Scheldepas then resumed her voyago to Jamaica, where arrangements had been made for her to bunker. When near Jamaica sho received wireless advice that she could not obtain coal at that port because the coal-lumpers were on strike and that similar conditions prevailed at St. Thomas, another nearby coaling-port in tho West Indies. This meant considerable delay, as the vessel had to divert from her original routo and proceed to Newport News for bunkers. Sho reached Newport News on March 29 and after taking on board 900 tons of coal resumed her voyage on April 31Striking 6f Submerged Derelict. After leaving Newport News tho vessel received a wireless warning of the approach of a severe cyclone which, fortunately, the steamer missed by only 110 miles. Calm was reached on April 9 and after again replenishing her bunkers the Schcdepas cleared Balboa on April 12. The next adventure was in tho Pacific on April 18. At 9.40 p.m., when steaming against a heavy south-west swell, the vessel collided stem on with a submerged derelict, the shock shaking her from stem to stern. Immediately afterwards four or five heavy bumps were felt as the derelict drifted past on the port side, but too far under water to be seen in the darkness. It was feared the collision had caused considerable damage to the steamer's hull, but when tho holds were sounded it was found the vessel was not leaking. However, the stem had received damage, because next morning there was 2ft. of water in the forepeak and 4ft. at noon. Captain Nepper, commander of the Scheldepas, then decided to put into Papeete for repairs. The vessel reached Papeete on May 7, but two days before her arrival tho leakage was more pronounced, tho forepeak was full and the water was leaking into No. 1 hold through the bulkhead, which was subject to considerable pressure. At Papeete the cargo in No. 1 was removed to the after end of the hold to enable the bulkhead to be inspected and the bilgo nose-boxes to bo cleared, Afterwards the ship's pumps were able to cope with the leak. Bunkers were also again replenished and the steamer resuiied her, voyago on May 12. Experience in Cyclone. „ Misfortune continued to dog the vessel. On May 14 she encountered the cyclone which did so much damage to the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Rimutaka. The wind blew with hurricane force and the high, confused seas swept tho deck of the Scheldepas until at times sho was almost like a" submarine, with only the bridge showing. Walking along the steamer's deck coulri be accomplished only by the aid of life-lines stretched fore and aft and the galley was uninhabitable. Consequently, no cooking was done for two days. To relieve the pressure on the damaged bow and to prevent further damage on deck the Scheldepas was put before the wind and headed toward the Kermadec group. On tho evening of May 16 the gale moderated. The sea and swell continued heavy for some time, but did not prevent the vessel resuming her course for Auckland. Since the steamer has been in port surveyors have examined the damage as fully as possible, but it is expected she will have to dock for repairs before she leaves New Zealand. The Scheldepas is an ex-British vessel and was built at Hull 31 years ago. After her trying voyago the captain expressed great praise concerning the strength of the hull, which he said was a credit to tho builders. The steamer formerly belonged to the Ellerman Wilson Line and was named Othello. During tho Great War she was utilised to carry war mater-] ial between the various ports in tho war zone. Tho crew numbers 62 all told, the captain, third officer and the engineer being Belgians. Tho chief officer is a Norwegian, tho second officer is a Russian and tho seamen and stokers are Indians.