LINER’S MOORINGS BREAK

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 2

LINER’S MOORINGS BREAK

INCIDENT DURING GALE. ANOTHER VESSEL ENDANGERED. Her stern moorings breaking in the heavy north-west gale on Sunday, the liner Corinthic, of 12,009 tons, swung stern first across the harbour at Timaru, being chocked when within a. few feet of the smaller steamer Fort Waikato, which was berthed opposite. The Corinthic was secured by three six-inch hawsers fore and aft. After being subjected to nearly 20 minutes terrific strain from the gale the three aft hawsers snapped, and two of tho smaller mooring ropes broke soon after. The ship’s stern was several yards off the wharf before the alarm was given on board, aiid the crew worked hard to save the liner from crushing the Port Waikato, which lay in its track. The bow hawsers were strained almost to breaking point as the stern of the liner veered across the harbour, and the sea anchors were quickly dropped to eliminate risk of these lines patting. With the steamer within a foot of the Fort Waikato, the danger of further drift passed, but the crew of the Port Waikato took the precaution to put. out an improvised fender on their vessel s stern.