FOG ON HARBOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 10

FOG ON HARBOUR

THREE SHIPS DELAYED BLANKETED IN CHANNEL SEARCH MADE BY LAUNCH ANCHORAGES IN A LINE- . Thrco large ship*? coming one after another up tlio harbour yesterday morning wore suddenly blanketed in ono of . the densest fogs the city has experienced for many years. Within seconds, all were shut out from the others' sight and anchored. As a result, when the sun finally dispersed the heavy fop, Auckland was given the remarkable spectacle' of tho Monowai, Monterey and the freighter Inverbank lying at a standstill in a short lino in the channel off "Rangitoto, so close to ono another that it was almost possible to shout across tho intervening distances. Tho Invcrbank was first to pass Tiritiri, at 5.15 a.m., being followed at 6.130 by tho Monowai, and at 6.35 by the Monterey. All picked up pilots a" little later, Tho fog dropped down on every ono when tho Monowai was just about to pass tho Inverbank, and after continuing a short distance, anil using their fog horns, the three vessels stopped and let go their anchors. City Streets Shrouded

Fog was seen by Captain E. It Jolianson, of the Monterey, as the liner was coming down tho east coast on Sunday night and mist was expected in the harbour. In city streets it began to impede traffic as early as 3 a.m., but it was not until about six o'clock that it obscured parts of. tli3 harbour. It spread, toward the incoming vessels as they approached the ltangitoto Beacon and closed in upon them as they neared the buoys off the island. As a result, all thrco were delayed. The Monowai did not berth until 9.10 а.m., the Monterey came after waiting for tho tugs to finish with tho Monowai, at 9.30, and the Inverbank tied up at 10 o'clock. Meantime a largo crowd of relatives and friends of passengers on both the liners stood at the end of the wharves gazing out into tho impenetrable wall of fog over tho inner harbour. Customs Launch in Fog Carrying boarding parties for both tho Monowai and the Monterey, a Customs launch left Queen's Wharf at б.30, but instead of coming alongside tho ships a quarter of an hour or so later, did not find them at all until 7.30. Fog descended on the launch as it was crossing the harbour. Visibility was limited to a few yards and the location of the Devonport Wharf was discovered only when a bell began to ring from it. Then, before the launch had found its way past North Head, it touched slightly on a sand or mud bank without, however, stopping. After rounding North Head the launchman set a northerly course by compass and decided to hold it for 15 minutes. In 12 lie found tho Inverbank. Within a few more minutes, helped by tho clanging of their bells, he had come alongside tho Monowai, and then tho Monterey. The liners followed custom by sounding their fog horns while in motion and then using bells as soon as they anchored. Tho Monowai anchored again before reaching the wharf, and the Monterey slowed down, a break in the fog at about 8.15 being only temporary.