SENSATIONAL VOYAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

SENSATIONAL VOYAGE

CARGO STEAMER ON FIRE.

FOUR DAYS’ RUN FOR SAFETY.

Unexpectedly the 5000-ton British cargo steamer Brookwood called at Port Kembla, New South Wales, on September 22 to replenish her bunkers. Officers told a graphic story of the fire which broke out while the vessel was in the Indian Ocean, . .

On her maiden voyage to southern waters, the Brookwood left .England ou July 3 for a-direct trip of 15,000 miles to New Caledonia, with a mixed cargo of coke and-, coal. - She passed the Cape of Good Hope on August 1, and, after five days of fttrenuqm but-unsuccessful efforts to stom-the. outbreak,-the. ship wa.s headed for Mauritius, the nearest port, on August: 10,-- . During the run to Mauritius- 90.ton* of coal was rein Oved to another part of the ship, and 50 tons of coke had to be thrown overboard with bare hands to keep the flames and dangerous poison gases in check. ,Skilful handling of the ship and the strenuous efforts by the crew enabled the ship to reach Mauritius, on August 14, At Mauritius the harbour authorities ordered the vessel to be flooded to extinguish the fire, but it was two days before the outbreak was subdued ni the flooded holds.

The Brookwood only put to sea in 1929. a new steamer. She was not due to visit Port. Kembla, her first Australian port, until the return voyage.