KAHANUI SINKING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 64, 17 March 1942, Page 4

KAHANUI SINKING

LEAK UNDER BUNKERS EXPLANATION TO BOARD Galvanic action caused by salt water, copper and iron coming in close contact was stated at the monthly meeting of the Manga- ' nui Harbour Board yesterday to have been the cause of the steam tug Kahanui developing a leak between the ceiling of the bunker space and the bottom of the ship. The vessel was found sinking at Zastlecliff Wharf on February 24 and, 1 at a later date, while on a passage to Wellington for overhaul, a further leak developeed. The tug’s pumps kept the water under control and at Wellington the leak was plugged by a shipwright. An overhaul had been carried out, and the tug was reported lo be in a thoroughly seaworthy condition. Reports were submitted to the board yesterday by the acting-har-bourmaster, Captain F. G. Taylor, and the board’s engineer, Mr. R. R. Dawson. A suggestion that one of the sea-cocks had been left open when the vessel developed a leak in the Wanganui roadstead last January was refuted, and described by Mr. Dawson as a rumour. The chairman of the Works Committee, Mr. J. Patterson. said the trouble was due to local corrosion below the bunker space, and declared that he had been told by experts Ln Wellington that this could happen to any ship. When Mr. J. J. Scott asked howl the tug had been allowed to sink at its moorings, Mr. Patterson maintained that every care had been taken. Difficulty of access to that portion of the ship below the bunkers prevented the trouble from being discovered earlier. Captain Tavlor stated that it was reported to him at 7 a.m. on February 24 that the tug was making water fast, alongside the Castlecliff Wharf. An immediate inspection disclosed seven to eight feet of water in the stokehold and engine-room. Fire engines pumped the water out and by 10 a.m. it was under control. The marine surveyor was called in and as the vessel was still making watei it was decided that the leak might be under the bunker space. About 25 tons of coal was discharged and thn leak located. , The Kahanui left at a later date

for Wellington. Captain Tavlor added, and between Mana Island and Cape Terawhiti the chief engineer reported to hini that the ship had sprung a leak in the engineroom. It was not possible to plug the leak at sea, but the trouble was rectified at Wellington. A copper pipe, Captain Taylor stated, was in close proximity to the ship's bottom, and when copper, iron and salt water were in close contact local galvanic action was set up, i causing the iron to be gradually eaten away. The copper pipe had since been removed. said Mr. Patterson. Mr. D. Dwyer: It. is satisfactory to know that the trouble was not due to carelessness on the part of the board’s , i staff. / Mr. Scott contended that a more careful inspection should have been , carried out after the vessel developed L a leak in January. The next thing / they knew she was resting on the i bottom of the river. i Captain Taylor explained that Ma- - rine Department regulations did not require an inspection of the space ? below the bunkers more than once in - six years. An engineer would have , great difficulty in finding such a leak, . principally because the Kahanui’s f bunkers were never empty. Some i time had elapsed since this portion i of the ship was last inspected, and in - the meantime corrosion had occurred. In reply to a further question, Capi tain Taylor said the Kahanui made - water while attending a vessel in the d roadstead in January. The water l’ was pumped out after her return to i port and no further trouble occurred t till six weeks later, when she partially sank at her moorings. > ‘‘We were told in-January that one t of the sea-cocks had been left open. - Who was responsible for that rei port?” Mr. G. P. Hawkins asked. t Mr. Dawson; That was purely a s rumour. If there was a hole in the 5 bottom of the shin it could hardly close up again. That is the strange s part about it. A piece of rope-yarn, old sacking, r or any rubbish floating about the har- \ hour could have been drawn up to 1 the hole and acted as a temporary ? plug, said Captain Taylor. In reply to Cr. T. Mitchell, it was y stated that the vessel’s engineers > made a close inspection after the J January occurrence. “I have made inquiries and there is 2 no suggestion that the sea-co<.. were j left open. The Kahanui is a good. ■ sound ship. There’s nothing wrong with her,” said Mr. Patterson. : The discussion lapsed,