SUBMARINE ERUPTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19737, 5 January 1927, Page 3

SUBMARINE ERUPTION

SAND, CLAY AND DEBRIS 4 ‘THREE GALES IN A ROW.” A submarine upheaval of considerable extent was reported by the officers of the American-Australian-Oriental lino steamer West Carmona, which arrived at Melbourne from Seattle recently. The phenomenon was observed in ’the Tasman seas almost midway between New Zealand and Australia, in latitude 39deg. lOmin. south and longitude 153 d eg. lOmin. cast, on November 19. Leaving Wellington for Melbourne on November 13, the West Carmona experienced very heavy weather. Tn expectation of a storm the deck cargo of timber had been well battened down, and consequently no damage was done to the vessel. “We were running along with three gales in a row,” said one of the officers. “I have never experienced such a run of bad weather during the whole of my time at sea.” At half-past 2 o’clock in the afternoon of November 19 broken water was reported ahead, and by 3 o’clock the West Carmona was ploughing through heavy waves, which boro sand, red clay and other debris from the sea floor. The waves appeared to emanate from a focus, and gave the appearance known to mariners as “heavy water.” The ship was tossed about and the speed was greatly reduced. The disturbed area was very large, and for many hours the discoloured waves were seething about the ship. The depth of the water in this region is shown on the Admiralty chart as 400 fathoms, and there are no known shoals within many miles. The master and officers wore unanimous in reporting this as a submarine volcanic disturbance, probably associated with the earth tremors experienced recently in New Zealand, and possibly with the exceptionally stormy weather which attended the voyage.

The greatest force of wind registered between New Zealand and Melbourne was about 50 miles an hour. This was a head wind and, combining with the extraordinary force of the seas, reduced the speed of the vessel, which is normally 10 knots to as low as 1.8 knots. The average speed during the whole of the passage from Wellington was 7.3 knots, the best day’s run being 210 miles and the worst only 104 miles. For a vessel of the type of the West Carmona the voyage from Wellington to Melbourne in ordinary circumstances should occupy six days, but nine days and several hours were taken.

The incident is an inauspicious beginning for the new American-Austra-lian-Oriental service, tho West Carmona being on her first voyage in any other run than that between China and America. Under the new schedule the vessel sails from San Francisco to New Zealand, and thence, by way of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, to Manila and China. From North China she sails direct for San Francisco in completion of the round voyage.