TOWED ACROSS WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21617, 9 October 1933, Page 5

TOWED ACROSS WORLD

STEAMER VISITS AUCKLAND DISASTROUS FIRE RECALLED The longest tow to which a merchant ship has ever been subject was experienced a few years ago by the steamer City of Singapore, which arrived at Auckland from New York on Saturday evening. The vessel was nearly destroyed by fire and afterwards she was towed from Adelaide to Rotterdam for permanent repairs. The fire occurred on April 26, 1924, when the vessel was at. Adelaide with. 700 tons of petrol and other oils from New York on board. Before the outbreak was subdued, four firemen lost their lives and 13 other persons wero seriously injured. Three hours after the firo started a terrific explosion occurred and timber and ship's fittings wero blown high in the air. The damage was estimated at £250,000. The opinion was expressed that the vessel would never leave the port again, as it was thought it would cost as much to repair her as to build another vessel. Eventually she was taken over by Mr. W. J. Russell, salvage expert, and he arranged for her to be temporarily repaired and then taken in tow to Rotterdam, where permanent repairs could be effected. The Dutch tugs Willen Barendsz and Vivian Deren had arrived in Australia with a barge from, Java and the two tugs were given the contract to carry out the long tow, which was completed successfully. The City of Singapore was then one of the newest steamers of the Ellerman Line, having been built in 1923. '.She is a steel, cruiser-stern steamer of 656? tons. ■