SALVAGE DISPUTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 12

SALVAGE DISPUTE

RESCUE IN BAY OF BISCAY The story of an eight days’ struggle in the Bay of Biscay to save a rudderless British steamer was revealed in Rotterdam recently by the arrival of the English collier Kerma (4333 tons), nearly a fortnight overdue. While herself battling with giant seas the Kerma answered a distress call for the Hilicroft (2268 tons). When the Kerma arrived alongside she made many futile efforts to place a line aboard. Te gale was so bad that it was eight days before the Hillcroft was made fast. In" the meantime the Dutch salvage boat, Witte Zee, which had been searching for the Hillcroft, arrived on the scene. Her captain immediately threw a line aboard, and the two vessels began the tow into Ferrol, on the coast of Spain. A dispute arose later between the masters of the Kerma and the Witte Zee as to which vessel was chiefly responsible for getting the Hillcroft into harbour. The captain of the Kerma fflaims that the Witte Zee did ’ little and. moreover, did not begin to help until after the Kerma had actualnly begun the tow. The captain of the Witte Zee, on the other hand, states that without his help the Kerma could have done nothing. The question will, therefore, have to be settled by an Admiralty Court.