Damage To Endeavour Less Than Anticipated

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 12

Damage To Endeavour Less Than Anticipated

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. Damage to the Antarctic supply ship Endeavour is not as great as was feared, and it should be out of the Wellington floating dock by the weekend. The Endeavour was damaged coming out of McMurdo Sound two weeks ago. It arrived in Wellington on one propeller on Sunday morning. Officers think the propeller may have been damaged by ice when the Endeavour was being towed by the U.S.S. Burton Island. Ice conditions at the sound were the heaviest in years. Officers in the Endeavour believed the screw and shaft had suffered more damage than it actually had, because

of the excessive vibration during the trip back. The Navy had two spare shafts and propellers sent down from Auckland, but today’s inspection indicated that only the propellers would need replacing. While the ship is in drydock, half of her crew are enjoying leave ashore. The Endeavour is due to sail south from Lyttelton on February 11. Ice also damaged the propellers of the United States Navy cargo ship Private John R. Towle but she was luckier than the Endeavour. Pieces broken off each of the four propeller blades balanced and caused little vibration, and the ship was able to travel to Wellington at its normal speed of 14 to 15 knots.