EXACTING TASK TOWING VESSELS OUT OF RIVER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 74, 6 April 1949, Page 5

EXACTING TASK TOWING VESSELS OUT OF RIVER

It is a big responsibility to take a vessel out of any harbour, and to take a ship of any size out of Whakatane "is no exception. Each week small coastal vessels call and depart and their movements are of immense importance to those who control the harbour at Whakatane.

Yesterday morning the Motu, a small motor vessel of about 180 tons, was ready to sail for Auckland. Loaded with the produce of the rich Rangitaiki Plains and empty petrol drums it was ready to be towed through the Heads by the Port Whakatane, the Whakatane Harbour Board’s pilot launch, skippered h.y Captain G. Carey. Towline Is Thin With its engine turning over the Motu is joined to the ‘Port’ by a thin towline. It looks so thin it seems hardly possible it can haul 180 tons.

Waving the ‘O.K.’ the Motu’s captain takes his position on the bridge. The ‘Port’ slides forward slowly then jerks slightly as the towline takes the pull. Straining forward the pilot launch shudders and swings towards the centre of the river, but downstream, assisted by the Motu as it ‘revs’ to half speed. Away on the first part of the voyage. Slowly, at about four knots the ‘Port’ guides its charge through the calm water of the harbour to the breaking swell at the Heads. Down the river, past the smaller fishing smacks drawn upon banks on the one sicje and the prouder launches playing at anchor on the other. Past the two white buildings standing alone on a small rocky point. Progress Watched Opposite the pretty residential area tucked cosily away ‘under the hill. There, people watch the vessel's progress with interest. Three of them wave and two sailors leaning over the side raise their arms disinterestedly and then start waving with vigour, when they notice who they are. Even the captain cannot resist a pretty face and he also shakes an arm.

Abreast now of the towering white mast at the signal station, the ships begin to rise and fall more sharply as they meet the incoming ocean. The ‘Port’ swings on the towline but keeps to the eastern channel. Captain Carey looks anxiously behind as he approaches the bar. The Motu is drawing just under seven feet and the bar at its deepest is just registering over that figure. Lack of flood water in the river lately, has let the silt build up on the bar. A good fresh is wanted to wash it away.

Sticking to the deepest part of thg channel the launch noses gingerly through the rising swell. Over the bar now and the water is so clear the pipi shells on the bottom can be seen with ease.

Touches The Bar Suddenly a slight tug. The Motu has touched the bottom. The launch is brought to a halt. The helmsman on the bridge swings the wheel round hard to the sea. A dirty brown begins to stain the water round the Motu. The captain looks anxiously at the pilot boat, which 1 now swings out in the direction of the Rurimas. It takes the strain again and slowly moves forward, bringing the blunt bow of the larger vessel with it. It is off the bar after just scraping the top. A few more yards and the Motu is cast off. A languid wave from the crew and it heads for Auckland. The ‘Port’ returns through the western channel to take measurements. This is worse, the deepest is only about six feet. Back again to the wharf to tie up. Captain Carey wonders, as he hitches the last rope, how he is going to bring in the Clansman on Thursday. She draws about seven feet eight inches.