LONGEST TOW EVER MADE BY A MERCHANT SHIP IS TO END TODAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 October 1948, Page 4

LONGEST TOW EVER MADE BY A MERCHANT SHIP IS TO END TODAY

Auckland, Last Kight (PA). —The longest salvage tow ever made by a merchant ship neared its end late tonight, when tne p. and O. .Lune motorshin Palana (Captain F. R. Spurr) and the disabled British freighter Fernmoor (Captain F. B. Lamb) passed through Colville Channel into the Hauraki Gulf, having covered 2300 miles from the eastern Pacific in 23 days. The ships will anchor oil Rangitoto at 3 o'clock in the morning to cast off the tow. * One of the Auckland Harbour Board’s tugs will meet tne Palana and Fernmoor between Rangitoto and Tiritiri and will stand by to give assistance during the long and difficult task of taking in the wire and cables at the anchorage. She will be joined later by another tug, and both tugs will then bring the Ferhmoor over the last few miles into port and to berth. The Fernmoor, which was bound from Sydney to the United Kingdom with a full cargo of wheat, will require medical and Customs examination. As soon as the tow line has been taken in the Palana will steam into port and will berth. She was diverted to the Fernmoor when on a voyage from Lyttelton to London with a full cargo of South Island produce. and she will now require oil fuel. Stores and water will be taken aboard before the vessel resumes her journey to England.

Ship surveyors and marine engineers will inspect the Fernmoor’s s to assess the extent of the de. .ge which forced the freighter to call for assistance when some 700 miles southwest of Pitcairn Island on September 19.

Captain Lamb has reported that cylinder cooling castings were smashed and that portions of the shattered castings jammed the crank webs, causing the engines to seize. Replacements and parts arrived at Auckland from London by air on October 5.