THE DISABLED WHALER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20388, 20 April 1928, Page 3

THE DISABLED WHALER.

GREAT SALVAGING FEAT. VESSEL BEING SURVEYED. Shipping experts are astounded at the extent of the damage suffered by the whaler, C. A. Larsen, when she was on the rocks in Paterson’s Inlet. “ How she arrived her in such a state is simply marvellous,” a shipping expert stated 'after viewing the vessel in dock yesterday, He added; “ Compressed air did it.” Only one other, vessel of the many that have been repaired in Otago Dock was nearly so badly damaged as the whaler, and in the case of that other vessel the damage was distributed over the bottom. ,The whaler’s damage' is vestrictccUtd the bilge on the starboard side, but it extends to a length of over 300 ft. Tin? original outward curve of the bilge is now an inward curve, and throughout its. length is a series of gaping fractures in the hull plating. One of those gaslics,, and it is not the longest, is 70ft in length, its width varying from an inch or so to over a foot. Here and there are gaping cross fractures up to 6ft in length.: The rocks against which the vessel crashed also made deeper dents at some places than at others. The twisted edges of the fractured Jin plating also show the enormous pressure of the grinding impact. In addition to the fractured hull plating, the inside frames and steel bulkheads have been bent and twisted out of place. Were the ship merely repaired temporarily the new plates, if put on to the original hull alignment, would be several feet away from the structural frames to which the plating is ordinarily riveted. The intervening space would then be filled with concrete as an emergency measurp. Permanent repairs would mean that the structural framework would be restored to its original alignment,. and buckled buckhcads made good. Temporary repairs are a matter of expediency, but permanent repairs ensure safety. , Mr W. Crawford, Lloyd’s surveyor, is at present making a survey of the damage done to the C. A. Larsen. His report will be cabled Home in due course, and on the instructions received in reply will, it is understood, depend what repairs are to be carried out to the vessel—at the Otago Dock— whether they arc to be temporary or permanent. _ A rather good story is told in connection with ihc distasteful smell of the oil which has dripped from the C. A. Larsen into the dock. One of the local officials, in walking around the dock in gumboots, had the misfortune to put his, foot in a deep spot, and the oil and water came ovc? the top of the boots and.soakcdbum He was extremely unpopular when he got home that night, every member of the family looking at him with reproachful eyes. He had one friend, bower or. ihc house eat greeted him wi:th wtljusiosnu and snuggled up against him.on .excry opportunity. It had no fault to find with the smell of the oil—in fact, it matU no secret of its liking for the objectionable odour.