WAIPAHI ON ROCKS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 4

WAIPAHI ON ROCKS

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. SHIP’S SAFE RETURN TO PORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington; Last Night. Considerable damage was done last night to the Union Company’s vessel Waipahi, when she touched a rock off Pencarrow Head when outward bound for Auckland. Visibility was very poor, and some difficulty was experienced in picking up the beacons after she left the wharf at 11 p.m. The position was checked at the front beacon, but although the Steeple Rock beacon was visible, it was impossible to tell how far off the ship it was. The vessel did not appear to be out of its course. The course was set south as usual to take the vessel clear of the rocks about Pencarrow. The low level light was seen at times, but it was difficult to estimate the exact position of the ship. When abreast of the light, she struck some object, and commenced to make water. Only one blow was felt, and the vessel did not hang on. She was immediately turned back into port and tied up at the Taranaki Street wharf. The theory has been advanced that the vessel was set out of position by currents set up by the amount of flood water in the harbour. Ope of the crew says that the night was the dirtiest he has experienced for years, and the fog was so thick that it was impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. When the vessel was placed on the floating dock this afternoon it was found that the damage was extensive. From well forward on the starboard bow the damage extended in patches right aft over the bottom plates and frames on both sides of the hull. The appearance indicated that the vessel had scraped over the reef, though only one bump had been felt. On the starboard bow a plate was badly bent with the rivets started or shorn off and water was spraying out m a dozen small jets. The main damage, however, was amidships on the port side, where about 15 feet of rolling chock had been crumpled and in places torn away from the hull, while several plates were badly crumpled. The remainder of the rolling chock aft was bent in places. In at least a dozen other places the bottom plates had been slightly set up and the paint scraped away. It is understood that temporary repairs will be effected and the vessel will come out of dock to-morrow to discharge the remainder of her cargo and then dock again for permanent repairs. The Waipahi is an oil . burner, of 1783 tons, built in 1925. Captain J. E. Warwick was in command, with W. J. Freeman first officer, H. H. Pike second, and B. H. Young third.