SUDDEN TROUBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26582, 3 October 1947, Page 6

SUDDEN TROUBLE

STEAMER TAMAHINE DEFECT IN STEERING GEAR EMERGENCY SKILLFULLY HANDLED p.A. BLENHEIM, Oct. 2. A somewhat sensational incident occurred about 5.30 p.m. yesterday, when the Tamahine on her run across from Wellington to Picton, experienced sudden trouble with her steering gear as she was about to run through Tory Channel into Queen Charlotte Sound. The ship, carrying 65 passengers and riding fairly high in the water because of a light cargo, was making three-quarter speed in a rough but more or less following south-east-erly sea. There was no hint of trouble as she swept in from the strait towards the narrow rock-flanked entrance, but when she was almost squarely in the passage the steering defect developed. Without any warning, the ship slewed sharply to the left and headed for the point of West Head. According to eye-witnesses, Captain Meatyard, who was on the bridge, handled the emergency with great coolness and skill. Had it been otherwise, passengers stated, a disaster might easily have resulted. Instantly aware from the ship’s quick swing that she was out of control so far as her rudder gear was concerned. Captain Meatyard promptly switched the engine room controls to full astern. For a moment the crisis lasted, until it became apparent that the vessel was slowly responding to the pull of the thrashing twin screws. Then as she gathered steerage way her bows,, were manoeuvred round on a course for the open sea and safety. Very few of those on board knew at the time that anything was amiss. For the next 45 minutes the Tamahine was under strict test well offshore in an endeavour to trace the defect. Whatever had momentarily caused the water pressure control of the steering to be lost had, however, remedied itself. for. the mechanism behaved perfectly. Discussing the incident, Captain Meatyard said he had kept the ship well clear of land until he was satisfied that nothing more was wrong. The manoeuvring that was carried out, he added, had probably caused an impression among the passengers that several attempts had been made to enter the sound, but that was not correct. Captain Meatyard said that at the time the tide had been flowing in through the entrance, and it was this that had caused the Tamahine to veer.