TOA OFF

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 31, 3 July 1939, Page 5

TOA OFF

REFLOATED BY OWN EFFORTS S?. . Leaves for auckland ON TUESDAYGood fortune and good scamnnslii] by Captain E. Cathcart and hi crew brought the Northern Steamshii Co's m.v. Toa off the rocks at thi Whakatane Heads where she strande< -on Friday. The vessel caine iff abou nine hours after she grounded an,f sustained comparatively little dam age, the main items being a brokei propeller blade and bent port tail ■■shaft, and damage to the sheathim She is not making water. THE STRANDING The stranding occurred on Fridaj morning shortly after six o'clock. ...'-It was high tide and there was z sea running when the Toa left "the pilot launch towing her as usual. The Toa Ava.s only lightly laden and when she and the tug were on the bar it is understood that they were struck broadside on by big waves. The shock of the blow on the tug's rudder apparently caure.d the steering chai.n to jam, but --..fortunately she was pointing seawards, so that * when Mr E. A. Chamberlain. Northern Company agent, threw off the "tow rope, Captain G. Carey able to take his craft out of danger ?nd adjust ; he steering gear when over the bar. Meanwhile the Toa had swung inshore and piled up seavvards of the conical rock where she lay on rock & with sheets of spray driving -/• over her. As the tide ebbed it was ppst ■seen that she was bow in between 'the rocks with a low reef in front of her. Wire ropes were obtained and put out landwards while the j tide was low. BEGAN TO POUND. As the tide turned and the water -commenced to cover the sandbank on which she lay the waves began to break round her, and the Toa began lift with the seas. She swung in ■10 starboard and began to pound on the conical rock. She was then in a ticklish position, and considerable ulamage could have been done, but fchc ~pilot launch pulled her head rount 4 «nd with the strain on the hawsers the following sea she lifted over the low rocks and came off into the channel and so, on her one engine j *up to the wharf where she is at present lying. It must be agreed that the Toa "was in considerable danger, and it is fortunate that she came off as well as she did. Signals had been made to ■stop the Opotiki.bound Waiotahi. and had this vessel arrived an attempt -would probably have been made to pull the Toa off stern-first. It was -perhaps only the fact that she was lightly laden that allowed her to hurdle the reef into the channel. ' TO DIRECT SALVAGE. Captain Hammond, General Manager of the Northern Company, iind 'Captain Pierotti marine superintendent, hurried down from Auckland ■with gear to aid in salvage, but "«hey found the boat safe at the wharf when they arrived. The Toa will probably leave for Auckland on Tuesday. The Otimai was off the river on Friday night, and it was expecfetV that she would escort the Toa to Auckland when-she was ready to sail • over the week.end, but owing to sea running she was unable to make port and sheltered at "VVhalo Island. When she does leave tor Auck *land she will tow the disabled vessel which will be docked there for survey and repairs. . • MANY SPECTATORS. Considerable interest was/ taken Tea's plight, and there was nf steady""~stream of cars down to The; Heads on Friday as the news 'pread -and country people read their BEA~CON which had been able to announce the bare fact of the stranding. The general opinion was that the vessel was in a, bad way ? and this~\vas supported by men who have had 30 or 40 years experience of the Whakatane River entrance. They all say that the vessel cajne out very well, and they pay tribute to Captain Cathcart and Captain Carey for efforts. Had a heavier sea, been running it is not impossible that the Toa would have been lost, n* was the Welcome whose timbers, ex. posed a chain or so landwards of the Toa, formed a reminder of the constant dangers to which vessels engag- - ed bar work are subject. , M <T lost 421bs in 3 weeks with Bno- ; kora!" writes a lady. Try Bonkon F. G. Macklow, Chemist, Whakatane