WANGANELLA NOW WELL UNDER CONTROL

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1947, Page 7

WANGANELLA NOW WELL UNDER CONTROL

-Press Association

VAST AMOUNT OF WORK YET TO BE DONE

By Telegrapn—

• WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. " We now have the Wanganella well under control but there is a tremendous amount of work to be done to her yet," said Mr. J. Dihvorth, British consulting engineer on the salvage operations. ' ' She is now drawing 28ft. forward and 17ft.. lOin. aft. We still have, to reduce her drauglit to 25ft. or less. '{ Salvage work was held up on Sunday and a part of Monday by the removal of some of the sliip's stores and equipment which were hindering the men at work. The masses of rotten meat and eggs 011 tlie quayside would have kept sightseers at a distanee with-' out the wooden barriers. The vessel is being prepared for the trip across ®to Clyde Quay wliere she will be put on the harbour bottom, and this afternoon Diver J. Jolinstone was exantining a hole in the port side of No. 2°hold. " 1 do not think tne vessel will be in a condition to be moved today," said Mr. Dilworth, ' ' but with any luek we will move her tomorrow. .We are keeping the list on her purposely to prevent the water in Nos. 2 and 3 liolds froni washing froni side to side. We ean put her on an even keel any time we wish. Number 3 hold is now nearly dry, he , said, and although the tank tops have been forced upwards to some extent the leak was so slight that it could be handled with oue pump. Nos. 1 and 2 are still sealed and kept full of compressed air which keeps the level of water down in Xo. 1 to eiglit feet below sea level and No. 2 to seven feet below ' sea level. In order to reduce the draught of the Wanganella sufficiently to allow her to enter the floating dock it would be necessary to expel still more waterfroni Nos. 1 and 2 liolds, he concluded. In order to do this the vessel had to be beached on an even keel when the seals of Nos. 1 and 2 could be brokeu. This would allow men to enter the liolds and assess the damage and necessary repairs. Either patches had to be plaeed over the lioles or colfer dams erected on the inside. With these in place it would be hoped that the ship would be sufficiently buoyant to allow her to be floated in to the dock. An interesting sign of lay opinion from the pessimistic rumour while the liner was on the reef to excessive optimism now that she is in harbour is provided by the numbers of inquiries being received for passages in the ship reported. Some people seem to think the liner is alreadv shipshajie and that tlie onlv prcliminaries to a safe and happy vovage are a few patches here and there 011 the hull, the tidying of the docks, Iounges and cabins,-. and replenishment of provisions and congratulatory speeclies. The gloomv fact is that it will be a very long time before any though t can be given to passenger voyages. Virtuallv all the salvage work lies ahead and it is an immen.se project.