PERIL NEAR REEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 6

PERIL NEAR REEF

DISABLED STEAMER RESCUED IN NICK OF TIME LAST ROCKET SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COAST DRAMA [from OUR OWN correspondent] t SYDNEY, June 24 Disabled off the Margaret Brock Reef, about 200 miles from Port Adelaide, the 3350 tons freighter Mungana, with a valuable cargo, was in danger for 24 hours of being wrecked until rescued in the nick of time by the overseas liner Nestor. The Mungana was so close to the rocks that rescue seemed impossible. The final rocket from her found its mark on the Nestor after the latter had expended all her rocketline shots without making contact.

It is one of the few cases on record where a disabled ship's rocket has provided her own salvation. The salvage assessments will be determined by the Admiralty Court in London, on the value of the Mungana and her cargo. It is estimated that the value of both would total about £IOO,OOO.

Propeller Shalt Bent The Mungana's engine thrust carried away and her propeller shaft was bent. She was on the first stage of a voyage from Port Adelaide to Queensland, her 2000 tons of cargo including a large consignment of motor bodies. The Margaret Brock Reef, is one of the worst menaces to navigation on the South Australian coast. The reef is not all connected, and there are channels through parts of it, and it extends for' nearly three miles from the lighthouse at Cape Jaffa. Owing to the uneven nature of the bottom, the sea often breaks in bad weather for a distance of four or five miles outside the outer rocks of the reef with such violence as would jeopardise a small and deeply-laden vessel. Accuracy of Despair The mishap to the Mungana occurred when a southerly gale was blowing and her plight became perilous, as she was drifting toward the reef. The Nestor was. close by and quickly answered distress signals. In the heavy seas difficulty was experienced in getting a rocket-line on board the Mungana. The Nestor's stock of rockets became exhausted, and then the Mungana began to use her supply. Every minute found her drifting closer and closer to the reef. The Nestor herself came into the danger zone.' Only a few hundred yards separated the Mungana from the reef when her last rocket-line, fired with the accuracy of despair and favoured by luck, fell on board the Nestor. It was quickly seized, the attached tow-rope was hauled on board and the Mungana was dragged clear of the jagged rocks. Snipping men regard the rescue of the Mungana as a remarkable piece of seamanship. The Nestor, a Blue Funnel liner, was under the command of Captain Power, who was making his first visit to Australia.