Tug’s Crew Puts Out Fire

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 12

Tug’s Crew Puts Out Fire

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 9.

The tug Sea Toiler, towing a 600ton sand barge, docked under its own power in Auckland yesterday afternoon with its funnel and surrounds aft damaged by a fire at sea early in the morning. ’'

Flames covered the tug’s twin diesel fuel tanks during the fire but the tanks did not explode.

Crew members were unhurt in their fight against the fire six miles to sea off Bream Head, Whangarei.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. Damage is estimated at about £2OO.

The skipper of the tug, Mr John Carruthers, of Te Atatu, discovered the fire at 2.20 a.m. He stayed at the controls of the ship and transferred three of his crew of six on to the barge. The engine controls were burned out and he could not stop the engines. After seeing that all had life jackets, the crew fought the fire with foam extinguishers and called Auckland radio.

The fire-fighting was over in 45 minutes, Mr Carruthers said.

Auckland radio picked up the distress call from the Sea Toiler at 2.45 a.m. The tug requested immediate assistance to help to fight a “serious” fire.

The liner Oriental Queen, headed for Auckland, also picked up the call and hove-to to see if assistance was needed.

At 3.15 a.m. the tug reported one engine had stopped but the fire seemed to be under control.

Preparations were being made at that stage to send a Whangarei Harbour Board launch to the Sea Toiler. At 3.25 a.m., the Sea

Toiler reported that heavy smoke was pouring from the engine-room and that the crew was still fighting the fire. Ten minutes later the tug radioed that “immediate assistance was not required," as the fire was under control.

The Oriental Queen, after standing by for three-quarters of an hour, continued to Auckland.