WANGANELLA STRIKES REEF

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1947, Page 4

WANGANELLA STRIKES REEF

-Press Assjciation

FIRST POST-WAR OVtlM VOYAGE EIIDS IN M1SHAP

By Telegraph —

WELLINGTON, January 20. On her first post-war civilian voyage across the Tasman, th'e Huddart Parker Company's Wanganella struck the north end'of Barrett's Reef while entering Wellington Harboiir about 11.30 o'clock last night. The ship lies hard and fast on the reef, and slightiy down in the stern. The Wanganella, on making Wellington Heads, appeared to hit what is known as the outer rock when sweeping into the harbour. The night was completely dark, but clear, and the sea was almost flat cairn.

When the news of the accident was given the Harbour Board by its signalman at Beacon Hill, above Seatoun, the harbour master despatched .he tugs Toia ahd Terawhiti to assist, and the harbour ferry Cobar and tug Natone to take off the passengers. At 3 a.m. it was reported that the taking off of passengers had begun. There were about 400 passengers on board, including Admiral of the Fleet Lord Tovey, Lord Nuffield, Mr. R. Ifanks, general manager of Nuffield Bxports, fetd., and Archbishop Panico. Barrett's Reef is a promihent reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. A number of ships have struck it previously, the most recent being the American freighter Golden Harvest. After the accident the Wan-. ganella lay on the reef in the dark, brilliantly lighted from every porthole and from the iights in her superstructure. High in her rigging two red lights glowed on the masthead signifying'that the ship was in danger, but the tugs . were able to go right alongside and there appeared to be no dan»ger to the passengers. The coastal vessel Gael, whj^h was proeeeding to sea lTom Wellington, was the first Ship on the scene. She cruised in the vicinity until the arrival of the first tug, A two-way radio between the Queen's Wharf lower and two of the harbour board's vessels greatly facilitated communications between the sea accident and those directing operations. The Wanganella is commanded by Captain R. Darroc'h. Damage Examined An examination of Ihe Wanganella's bows and port side as seen from a launch showed that a foot of her straight stern has been torn and buckled f'or a distance of about five feet. Below the buckle, so far as could be seen, the receding portion of the hull, which is of semi-arc design, has not been damaged, but further al't there appeared to be a rupture of her plating below the waterline. On the starboard side of the bow, and hard against it, is the outermost rock of the reef projecting about sixteen feet above the water at low/ tide. Another. rock just visibte. above ihe low water is hard against the vessel's side at a point immediately below the bridge.

The Wanganella appears to be lodged in a cleft between the two rocks. She is not noticeably down by the stern.. Her uneven appearance at noon today a'ppears to be due to the fact that the falling tide has left her bow slightiy raised on the reef,- whiie the afterpaxff is afloat. At 11.10 a.m. today the harbour tug Toia put a steel hawser on to the starboarekquarter. The ferry steamer Cobar returned to Wellington with out having had a chaxice to pick up xpails or pxore than a few suitcases and packages of cabin iuggage. • With the Toia pulling hard shortly after 11 a.m. the Wanganella began to run her engines astern as well in an apparent effort to free herself. The Union Company's tug Terawhiti has arrived as extra assistance. Passengers Unconcerned The usually persistent sound of the whistling buoy at Barrett's Reef could be heard throughout the night on a cairn evening or when a southerly wind blew, stated a resident near the scene of the mishap. The buoy could not be heard from the shore last night or early this morning, presumably because a light northerly wind was carrying the sound out to sea. Although they did not hear a crash, other residents stated that they were awakened soon afterwards by blasts from smaller vessels. With the coming of day light, sightseers arrived in crowds at Breaker Bay, coming -on motorcycles, bicycles and on foot, and scrambled for vantage points. The ship struck at 11.48 p.m. New Zealand time. One passenger said the ship's docks, which had not been adjusted to New Zealand time, showed 10.55 j).m. when the liirer stranded. It had been intended to adjust the ship's time at midnight. A woman jxassenger stated hat a danee was being held on deck when the liner struck. 8he felt a shudder pass Lhrough the ship, but thought | he anchor was probably being i Iropped at the entrance to the I Heads. The dancing continued ;b.nd that fact reflected the un|Ppficer"n of ip^ssengei-s, all of fwhom . were^ and orderly, land patiently" "'awaited 'their ,Liirn for transferring to the j vessels to bring them into port.