FROSTY MOLLER’S VOYAGE

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 7

FROSTY MOLLER’S VOYAGE

TOW-LINE PARTS IN MID-OCEAN

FAILURE TO FULL TWO STEAMERS FORESEEN

(Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, June 17.

The news received this morning that the Frosty Moller had had to abandon her attempt to tow two steamers from Australia to Shanghai did not come as a surprise for it was realized that the task was an ambitious one for any tug. A recent letter received in Dunedin gives an indication of the difficulties to be encountered in towing a heavy vessel through rough seas. In this letter the captain reported that the Frosty Moller in the trip from Melbourne to Sydney was “Going 0.K.” The engineers were satisfied that the engines would drive her along at 11 knots all the way to Shanghai. That was, of course, if she did not have any ship in tow. The J. S. Boyd made a dead heavy tow when the Frosty Moller left Melbourne, but, with everything going well, she was able to average 5.28 knots for the whole trip. The two vessels left for Sydney on Thursday, May 5. As the sailing day had to be postponed because of bad weather and the refusal of the pilots to take her over the bar, the tug picked up a pilot at Sydney Heads at 1.30 pm. on May 10. The voyage was not without incident, the most exciting event being the snapping of the tow line in mid-ocean. On the Saturday in the vicinity of Gabo Island, an enormous gale was encountered from the south, making both ships pitch heavily and causing those on board to watch * the tow line anxiously. At 8.15 p.m., the tow line parted, just over the Frosty Moller’s stern.

After studying the situation and seeing that the J. S. Boyd was practically anchored, the captain decided to wait till daylight before putting a boat out. At 7 a.m., the captain manoeuvred the tug close enough to enable a boat to be launched with a working party in charge of the mate. Four large sharks were interested spectators, but as no trouble was encountered they did not get a chance to take part in the scene. The crew aboard the J. S. Boyd unshackled the starboard anchor and managed to catch the end of the heavy line, after the Frosty Moller had again been manoeuvred close enough for those on board to throw the line to them. The crew then returned in a lifeboat and there was much excitement before the boat was got aboard. The tug was manoeuvred close enough for a line to be thrown to the mate and this proved a ticklish job. At last, however, the boat was safely hauled aboard and the little flotilla was on its way again by 10 o’clock. No more trouble was experienced, but the tug had to fight against a heavy swell. At last, however, the Theresa Ward, another former New Zealand tug, came out to meet the Frosty Moller at the heads and the first tow was over.