ASHORE NORTH OF CASTLECLIFF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 8

ASHORE NORTH OF CASTLECLIFF

PORT BOWEN, AN OVERSEAS FREIGHTER IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER IF SEA AND WIND REMAIN CALM THREE POWERFUL TUGS, KAHANUI, TOIA AND TERAWHITI TO WORK TO-DAY The Port Line overseas freighter Port Bowen, 8267 tons (Captain F. W. Bailey), due to lead frozen meat in the Wanganui roadstead for Lon don, ran aground one to two miles north of the Wanganui River early yesterday morning. Despite the assistance of the Rata and the Kahanui (Wanganui), which began salvage operations yesterday morning, the stranded vessel had not been refloated at 2 a.m. to-day. Further attempts to refloat the vessel will be made at mid-day to-day, when there will be three tugs available, the Terawhiti, which arrived from Wellington last night, and the Toia, which is due to-day. The vessel ran aground at 1 a.m. in 26 feet of water. Her draught is 28ft. aft and 22 to 24ft. for’ard. She gently nosed into the soft sand apparently when being turned after her arrival from Wellington to find anchorage in the roadstead. At the time the condition of the sea was ealm but there was a thick fog on shore. Later a hailstorm developed. At the time of grounding the tide was on the ebb. High tide was at 11.16 p.m. on Tuesday. .

At 9 a.m. yesterday it appeared; that the vessel was a quarter to j half a mile off shore, at a spot a I mile to two miles north of the har- i hour entranee. Having no inter- ’ lion of entering the harbour, all i that her navigators were <on- I eerned with was finding the usual j roadstead anchorage off the end of the moles. Apparently she a.- ' rived from Wellington and was getting her bearings on the shore lights when it was discovered that she was closer to land than sUe should have been. She has a crew of between 70 and 8(1, but there are no passengers aboard. No Wind cr Heavy Set. No wind or any serious velocity disturbed the vessel and the calm conditions generally meant that she was in no immediate danger. There was no need for preemit ion, to be taken to get those on board ashore. So long as the wind did not spring up ami a southerly or westerly set 'develop her position could not become any worse than it was. Vagaries of the weather | at this time of the year, however,l made it important that attempts I to remove her should be made with the first available hi i tide, which was at 11.39 a.m. .. strong wind blowing inshore worn I make salvage operations harder th' 1 longer they were delayed, ami to i lua.te doubly sure that as mm h I assistance as possible would laavailable a call was made for the' Union Steam Ship Company 's tug i Terawhiti. She was unable t' leave Wellington until 1 p.m. | yesterday and did not arriv- ; . the Wanganui roadstead until 12.30 this morning. Tug Kahanui Called. Attempts to refloat th- strand?-.I vessel were b-’gun without delay. AI call to the harbour authorises at, Wanganui for the assistance of a tug' was made at 1.10 a.m.. and the Kahl, nui, enc of the most powerful tugs on this coast, put to sea in charge o. Captain F. G. Taylor and with Captain W. P. Rollings and a crew of 1. men aboard. The tv came back tv. port later and return-1 to the seen of the stranding at 7.3'1 a.m., taking with her the tug mast.-r. Captain li. W. Johnstone and Mr . H. 11. H. B< auchamp, representing me Port Lin • ir. Wanganui. The pilot launch also pu out and had on board Mr. L. L. Barnes, wireless op.r Hr ~t Wanga nui. and Captain L. Gt sup...nt.ndc.it of the Port L.n . Wei-' lingt.n. A wir-1 ss t Tephonc apparatus was installed on the stranded v. : - sei and enabled h ’r master and Cap tain Gregory to maintain communication. A line w

Port Bowen and the tug and an attempt made to puil her oft the soft bank of sand on which she was resting, the tug pulling while the strandect vessel's propellers were put into action astern, ihe ship quivered and was rising well when the Hue snappea and a gr ?ai chance to remove the vessel from her plight was lost. Her stern api Jai -i to swing slightly inshore. Meanwhile, the coastal vessel Rata came on the scene to lend assistance, but each time the strain was taken on the line she was operating it broke. High tide developed about ir a.m. ana fmlher attempts were made by the tug to shift the Port Bowen, bat ah v.<re unsuccessful. It was realised that if she could bo unloaded as much as possible salavage ■ ations would be aided. The li>’- Thistle and . r( turn with full loads of wool and tallow and discharged them into the Harbour Boaru's stores. The Tuhirangi and Morning Light also assisted in the lightering work. Lightering Discontinued. Towards evening conditions became less favourable. rhe cairn of the morning gave place to a choppy sea with a freshening wind from the. south. Lighter.ng operations had to be dfi continued, <utcr four loads had been removed to shore. Hopes of refloating the vessel obviously depended on ihe ability oi the powerful uTrawniti, which was travelling from -Hing ton full steam ahead. So efiici-nt has modern day communication b-'come that the master 01 the tug was kept in constant communication with the master and Port Line officials the Port Bowen, and plans were made as the Lug ploughed northward on her mission. 12.25 a.m. to-day the line between the Kahanui and the Port Bowen broke again. ATTEMPTS ABANDONED TO BE CONTINUED TO-DAY The breaking of the haws°r result *d in attempts to refloat the vessel being abandoned until midday to-day. The Terawhiti arriv•u too late to take advantage of t'ne midnight tide and the Kahanui put back to port at 1 a.m. A call for a third tug has been sent to Vx’llingten and the Toia is div to arrive to-day. Lit'ft informiti n di o'os es that the Port B wen is three cable 1 ngtb*. from shore, which is 600 yards. The breaking of the hawser caused :t to spring back sharply and portion ■ ecame wound round the port screw of the Kahanui. With her starboard engine working she was able to make ?ort and efforts to unwind several feet of hawser was put in hand right iway. I