SCOW ON REEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 10

SCOW ON REEF

HOLE TORN IN HULL DRIFTS AWAY ON SIDE CREW ABANDON VESSEL GOOD SALVAGE PROSPECTS [from our own correspondent] NELSON. Tuesday The auxiliary scow Portland struck a reef off Bark Bay, near Tonga Bay, 28 miles north-west of Nelson, about four o'clock this morning, filled rapidly and heeled over on her side. The crew of six were obliged to abandon the vessel, and made their way ashore safely in a'dinghy. The scow then commenced to drift, but was located later about eight miles nearer Cape Farewell than the reef she struck. She is on a sandy bottom and two trawlers are standing by. It is anticipated that the scow will be salvaged without great difficulty. The Portland, which is owned by Messrs. Neale and Haddow, of Nelson, left her home port at midnight for Puponga to load coal. The sea was not particularly rough, but the weather was thick and foggy. About four o'clock this morning the reef was struck, and a hole torn in the scow s hull. Water poured in and the crew, after remaining aboard as long as was considered safe, were obliged to abandon ship. Captain Henderson is the master, and with him were Messrs. F. N. McNab, K. Anderson, O. Everett, engineer, J. O'Donoghue, assistant engineer, and R. McNab. Two trawlers were sent out, one from Nelson and another from Motueka, and the scow was located, aground. Salvage operations will be hampered by a heavy sea now running. The scow, which travels regularly between Nelson and Puponga, is a dieselengined craft of 47 tons. She is valued at £4OOO by the owners, and is not insured. The Portland was built in Auckland for Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Limited, and was run in the local cement trade for a number of years before being sold to a Waitara firm. She was purchased by the present owners five years ago. The scow Tapua, formerly well known in Nelson, ran on to the same reef 15 years ago. -