SHIP DAMAGED BY WHALE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 17

SHIP DAMAGED BY WHALE

BRITISH FREIGHTER’S PLIGHT (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Nov. 11. The crew of the British freighter, Jevington Court, had an anxious three days’ battle with a gale in Bass Strait after the vessel’s rudder and propeller ,had been damaged as a result of striking a whale. A ' -aphic story of the hazardous trip was told by officers of the ship, which, on arrival in Sydney, went into dock for repairs. Leaving Nauru on October 10 with 9500 tons of phosphates for South Australian ports, the Jevington Court was making good progress until 150 miles off the coast between Newcastle and Sydney. Early one night the officers felt the ship shudder as she struck a whale. It was discovered that the propeller had lost one blade and another blade had been fractured. A flying piece of metal had dented the hull in two places, and the rudder was slightly damaged. The speed of the Jevington Court was reduced from 12 knots to seven, even when aided by a following wind, but it was decided to continue to Adelaide, instead of calling at Sydney, where it would have been necessary to discharge the cargo for

docking. When the Jevington Court entered Bass Strait she encountered the full force of a southeasterly gale. Steering was difficult, and the speed was low, so improvised sails were set on both masts. She was a strange sight, but the officers and men saw no humour in the situation. Three men were needed to cling to the wheel, and for three days the Jevington Court was under “jury rig,” few of the officers having any sleep. The vibration throughout this time from the damaged propeller was so great that nobody could write, and the dynamo was affected to such an extent that the electric light kept failing. After discharging her cargo in South Australian ports, the Jevington Coart loaded a shipment of iron ore to steady her, and she set out round the coast at a speed of five knots. The ore was discharged at Newcastle and the 60 miles’ run from Newcastle to Sydney occupied 24 hours.