LOSS OF THE SERFIB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21976, 10 June 1933, Page 12

LOSS OF THE SERFIB

FORTUNATE ESCAPE OF CREW l ■ NO SIGN OF ABANDONED VESSEL (Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, June 9. The complement of the lost trawler Serfib had the best of fortune in sighting the riding lights of the fishing launch Huia while making their way to the shore in the leaky dinghy after their abandonment of the vessel near Waipiro Bay last night. This portion of the coast is noted for past shipping tragedies, and landing through the sujrf would have been a perilous proceeding under the prevailing conditions. The Huia had left Tokomaru Bay on the previous night to seek shelter in Orange Bay Cove, at the southern extremity of the open bay, and the owner (Mr Jack Brennan) noted the appearance of the Serfib during the afternoon about five miles offshore. The trawler’s bows were then high and her stern down, indicating the possibility of distress, but no signals were flying. Three hours later the Serfib’s crew drew alongside the launch Huia, and Mr Brennan conveyed them to Tokomaru Bay, a distance of 10 miles, landing there at 9.15 p.m. The distressed mariners hoped to proceed to Auckland to-day by the Margaret W., a coasting motor vessel. Reports from various points along the coast north of Waipiro Bay indicate that the vessel was not sighted during the night or early morning, confirming Captain Flett’s opinion that the Serfib did not survive long after abandonment. Captain Flett, who is a trawling master of lifetime experience in Home and New Zealand waters, knows the coast well, and he fully realised the peril of attempting a landing on the open bay shore, but the condition of the trawler left no alternative. The water gained on the pumps at the rate of 8 feet in half an hour, and .the ship was wallowing in the trough of a heavy swell with occasional seas sweeping over her when she was last seen. The captain had no doubt that she would sink in a short time. |

Difficulty was experienced in launching the dinghy, which, owing to the lurching of the stricken trawler, was damaged on the deck fittings while being put over the side, and had to be baled constantly during the long journey to the shore. The crew and officers saved nothing, the abandonment being left to the last moment of safety. The complement comprised Captain Flett; the mate, Mr Black; the engineer, Mr Samuels;, deck hands—Jennings, More, and Whettaway; firemen —Elliott, Taylor and Hewlett; cook, Henderson. The skipper is certain that the trawler struck nothing, and the only theory to account for the sudden inrush of water was the breaking of a seacock under the engineroom. The three pumps failed to keep the water in check, and half an hour after the first alarm the fires were"' put out and the steam released as a precaution.

DETAILS OF THE MISHAP NARRATIVE BY SHIP’S MATE. , ■- / , (Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, June 9. The crew of the wrecked trawler arrived in town late this evening with the exception of Captain Flett, who wont on to Auckland by the Margaret W., from Tokomaru Bay to-day. The mate, Mr J. Black, stated that the vessel left Auckland on Tuesday morning and after operating in the Bay of Plenty on the following day reached Hick’s Bay on Thursday morning, but had no luck with the trawl and the ship proceeded towards Tolaga Bay. He was reading in his hunk at 3 o’clock in the afternoon when he felt an unusual tremor and jumped up. Just then a fireman, JElliott, rushed in and said the vessel was making water fast. At that time a good southerly sea was running and the Serfib was approximately four miles from land. The mate turned her head for land. Captain Flett then came np, proceeded Mr Black, and found that the' report was correct. The lifeboat was hurriedly prepared and lifebuoys put in. In half an hour’s time the water had risen eight feet in the engine room. The vessel started to labour and' it was decided to abandon the ship. A big roll was on and it was a hard job getting out the lifeboat, the! keel being damaged in the process. The lifeboat started to leak, continued Mr Black, and two men were kept constantly baling. Within a few minutes of leaving the ship there were over seven inches of water in the boat. The sea was increasing and the position was most perilous, though the crew took the matter good-humouredly. Then the mate, who was steering, espied a light which proved to be that of the launch Huia, which they soon reached. As the men left the lifeboat it filled with water. .Mr Samuels, the chief engineer, said that when he left the engine room the water was up to his knees and was coming in fast. He paid another visit to the engine room to look at the steam gauge, but the dynamo had failed. The water was then level with the dynamo head. All the members of the crew took the affair philosophically. They will leave for Auckland by service car to-morrow morning.