STRANDED VESSEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23405, 22 July 1939, Page 12

STRANDED VESSEL

THREE TUGS WORKING EFFORTS SO FAR FAIL LIGHTERING OF CARGO MEAT' BEING TAKEN OFF [by telegraph—owx correspondent] WANGANUI. Friday In spite of the efforts of three powerful tugs, the stranded Port Line steamer Port Bowen remains in the same position as when it first came into shallow water on Wednesday morning off the Castlecliff Beach. A further attempt will be made early to-morrow morning to get tho vessel, into deep water. Fine weather has prevailed, and lightering is being carried out expeditiously. A commencement has been made to unload the refrigerated cargo. The vessel this afternoon had a decided list. Following the unsuccessful attempt at high tide at 1.15 a.m., every effort was concentrated to get the vessel otr by the next tide early this afternoon, hut the efforts proved futile. The Port Bowen's engines were not used, because this would agitate the sand, which might be drawn into the condensers and refrigerating plant. Mishap with Anchor It was the intention of tiie Wellington Harbour Board tug Toia to take out a further mushroom anchor and lay it with the tide before noon, but the opportunity, was missed through tle anchor slipping off a hook where it was attached to the Wanganui Harbour Bpard crane, and the anchor came to rest on the harbour bottom near the stern of the Toia.

, The cargo of frozen meat is causing •most anxiety, because of the possibility of the blocking of the pumps which serve the cooling system by sand. If this happened, the whole of the meat would be spoiled. It has been suggested also that it may be necessary to bring another Port Line vessel from Australia and unload the Port Bowen s cargo into her. Storage Question The cool store at Castlecliff owned by the Wanganui Harbour Board will accommodate about 80,000 carcases. However, meat from Patea and also from the Imlav freezing works has already been stored there, and there is 'now room for about 12,000 carcases. There is storage room also available I at Imlav for meat, but it is more con- j venient to use the Castlecliff stores because of the saving of time in lightering. To get a lighter to the Port Bowen and back to the wharf with a cargo .takes aboflt three hours. When hauling is'in progress by the tugs, lightering has to cease. Public Interest Interest in the stranded steamer and also in the work on the Castlecliff wharf is unabated, and sight-seers come and go throughout the day and night. The Wanganui city tramways have in consequence benefited. Taxi-drivers have also shared in tho benefit, while tradesmen are called on to provide extra pro-, visions for tugs and the men einployed on the wharf. The 40-liour week will not apply at Castlecliff to-morrow, as far as the lightering of the Port Bowen or attempts by the tugs to move the vessel are concerned. If the vessel is not moved before Sunday, the tugs will carry on as usual, and every tide will bo taken advantage of.

Superintendent's Thanks The marine superintendent for the Port Line, Captain S. E. Gregory, of Wellington, who has been in the Port Bo wen since Wednesday superintending, interviewed by wireless telephone, expressed appreciation of the assistance he was receiving in the work of lightering the vessel, and also the attempts of the tugs to move her from the beach. Captain Gregory did not express any opinion regarding the prospects of shifting the vessel. "Everything is going along well," Captain Gregory said. "The vessel is in a steady position and the weather favourable, and we hope to make further attempts at towing. I am well satisfied with the way all hands are co-operating, and very thankful for the assistance I have received from .the officials of the Wangauui Harbour Board."

HARBOUR LIGHTS IN ORDER CONTRARY SUGGESTION DENIED [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WANG-ANTJI, Friday • The chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, Mr. N. G. Armstrong, stated this morning that there was no foundation for the suggestion that the northern beacon light was notr burning at the time the Port Bowen grounded early in the morning of Wednesday last. The pilot staff declare that, all lights were functioning as usual. The secretary of the WanganuiRangitikei Electric-Power Board, Mr. G. A. Annnundsen, stated to-day that the light installation was under the supervision of the board. In consequence of an assertion that the system might have failed on the night of the stranding, he had had it tested and it had bpen proved that the system was in perfect order. Records showed that the lights had been on continuously from 4.30 p.m. to 6.47 a.m. each day this week.