SEA RESCUE IN DARK OFF HEADS

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1949, Page 8

SEA RESCUE IN DARK OFF HEADS

Press Association)

Two Men Fall From . Norwegian Tanker

(Per

WELLIiN , August z\). After fulliug- fr§m the tanker Herbvand as she passed through Welling ton Heads last niglit, two Norwegian seamen, believed to be Tom Wesenberg and baes Andersen, were rescued by the pilot luncli Uta, and are now in the Wellington Public Ilospifal. The Wellington Harbour Board pilot (Captain R. E, Suekling) was aboard the pilot launch when the men were pieked up abreast of Barretf's Reef. He had just tvansferred. from the tanker, which he liad piloted out of the harbour, when the Hinemoa, which wa-s about to pass the Ilerbrand on her way to Lyttelton, signalled the launch thal two npen were in the water. Captain Suekling searehed the water in the vicinitv of a lighted lifebuoy which is believed to have been drop]>ed by the Hinemoa, ai)d found the two men a couple of hundred feet apart and about 100 yards further up the harbour. ' The men, who had been in the water t'or probably more than 20 minutes, were suffering from exposure. One was uuable to speak and the other could only tell the rescuers the Aame of " his ship. After sending a radio-telephone message ashore, the pilot launch rau" to Seatoun Wharf, where the men were pieked up by the Wellington Free Ambulanee at 8.50 p.m. and taken to the Wellington Hospital. Their condition was today reported as fair. Leaving the Miramar Wharf at 4 0 'clock yesterday, the He'rbrand was foreed to lieave-to in the stream l>e eausg of engine trouble, but finallv saijed for Sourabaya and Abadan ab.out 7.30 p.m, Coprt Appearances. Yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Herd S.M., Wesenberg and another member of the erew- of the Herbrand, Ole Bakken, were eharged with abseuting themselves without leave from their ship. Wesenberg 's age was given as 32. After evidence had been heard from the ship 's ^ captain through ari interpreter, the Magistrate dismissed the charges. lt was stated in evidence that the aecused were trying to sign off their ship. They both had passports. for Australia and had a letter from the Muddart Parker Conrpany saying that they had been given passages in the Wanganella for Sydney. This they showed the boarding inspector to sliow that by joining the ship, they would not be contravening regulations regarding their landing in New Zealand as prohibited inimig^'ants. The accused went to the office of the U.S.S, C'ompany to see the captain at 2 0 'clock yesterday afternoon. At that time the captain executed a warrant. "When a man has a passport in his possession and leaves a ship to go to another country he is a deserter," ileclared the master of the vessel (Captain A. iCdo&tvedt) at one stage of the hearing. "When sailors are leaving a ship without paying off, that is forbidden. " When the accused asked whv they had not been allo\YeJ to pay off, Captain Kdostvedt said he had had a lot of trouble getting men for the ship and had had trouble with the owners because he had asked for a new eook and a steward to be sent to Abadan to join the ship. The men could not sign off without breaking their contraet. "Can the captain do as he likes with us?" asked Wesenberg through . the interpreter. The question was not allowed. Dismissing the case, Mr Herd, said he did not consider sufficient evidenci: had been produced to uphold a conviction.