VESSEL STILL AGROUND

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19600, 12 June 1935, Page 8

VESSEL STILL AGROUND

THE STRANDED OMANA.

BLOCKAGE OF BHIPPING.

EFFORTS TO REFLOAT FAIL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMiOUTH, Tuesday

Hopes that the steamer Omana, which was stranded on a gravel bank In the Grey River, on Sunday, would be refloated to-day were not fulfilled. The vessel remains stuck hard and fast In the river, although her position has altered somewhat. She Is now lying across the river In such a way that shipping movements will be Impossible until she Is freed. Attempts were made to refloat the Omana at high tide this morning and this evening. Apparently she is held amidships and also toward the bow. When the tide was at the highest this morning the steamer showed signs of movement, but a head wire on her windlass then slipped, with the result that valuable time was lost.

Renewed efforts this evening between 5.30 and 7.30, failed to make any impression, the Omana showing no signs of moving. The method adopted was a three-way pull. Straining wires were attached from the vessel’s bow to the stern of the steamer 'Kalingo—which was swung out into the river—and also to the bow of the Kiwitea. A third wire was strung from the Omana’s winch to the wharf.

Strong pulls were made by means of the winches of all three vessels, but no impression was made, and the attempt was abandoned, at 7.30, when the tide had fallen to such an extent as to make the position hopeless until the next tide. It is probable that a start will be made to-morrow to lighten the steamer by the removal of her cargo. Mishap to a Trawler. As spring tides will occur next Monday the depth of water in the river will now start to increase, and at the end of the week it should reach a higher level than when the vessels went aground. The flood current in the river is now running at about four knots, a little above normal.

Another mishap occurred at 11.30 this morning as a result of which the trawler Silver Fern is now tied up alongside the Omana,* and unable to move. She was commissioned to carry gear to the Omana. On getting around between the stranded vessel and the training wall the trawler got into shallow water, and had her rudder carried away, and her boiler damaged. The crew of the Omana came to the aid of the disabled little vessel and after two hours she was made fast to the side of the steamer, where she will be required to remain until the Omana is freed.

Owing to the heavy seas the Union Company’s tug, Terawhiti, which left Wellington on Sunday evening, Is still sheltering near Cape Farewell Spit, but even if she had been able to proceed It is very doubtful If the state of the Grey Bar would have enabled her to make port. She will come on to Greymouth as soon as the weather moderates.

TO-DAY’S ATTEMPT FAILS.

CARGO TO BE REMOVED

DISPUTE WITH WATERSIDERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Wednesday. Another attempt was made at 5 -o’clock this morning -to refloat tho -stranded Omana, hut without success. The tug Teraw'hiti, which left Wellington on Sunday but had to shelter from adverse weather at Farewell Spit, has been ordered back to Nelson, and will return to Wellington as it is considered that the tug could not do what -the -combined power -of the Omana, Kalingo, and Kiwitea has failed to accomplish. The next step decided upon was the unloading of a million superficial feet of timber aboard the Omana. This would have been commenced this morning, had not a dispute arisen between -the Waterside Workers’ Union and the Union Steam Ship Company on the matter of the rate of wages to he paid to the waterside workers. The union is now meeting to consider the -mailer.