Tow Of Damaged Ship Slowed Up By Adverse Weather

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 October 1948, Page 4

Tow Of Damaged Ship Slowed Up By Adverse Weather

AUCKLAND, Last Night (P.A.)— With the disabled freighter Fernmoor in tow, the P. and O. Line motorship, Palana, was 450 miles east of Auckland tonight. The master of the Palana, Captain Spurr, said in a radio message to the “New Zealand Herald” that she had been forced to ease down her speed on Saturday night because of adverse weather. At G o’clock this morning the Fernmoor’s cable jumped the windlass and the vessels were hove to until the cable was secured. Course was resumed at 8 a.m, The report received tonight stated that the ships were making four knots in a fresh gusty west-south-west wind and a heavy swell- Tlie two ships have now been together for 18 days and have covered about 1750 of the record 2200 miles tow to Auckland. The reaction of the men aboard to the weary journey is illustrated in a message received from the Palana today. Captain Spurr says that a dour Scot remarked as he gazed at the Fernmoor: “I'll be glad to see tha back of him.” A Cockney replied: “I reckon we ought to have towed the perisher stern first.” The progress of the shins apparently has been severely checked by the weather. The run in the 24 hours up to noon yesterday was 66 miles, compared with 120 miles in the previous 24 hours. The two ships are now expected to reach Auckland about Thursday.