STRANDED WHALER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 128, 28 February 1928, Page 3

STRANDED WHALER

SALVAGING THE LARSEN TEN WEEKS’ WORK By Telegeaph.—Press association. Invercargill, February 27. The position of the C. A. Larsen is unchanged, but precautions have been taken to prevent any' mishaps from the heavy weather, the ship being tied fore and af[ by hawsers, with extra lines out on the port and starboard sides. The vessel has been lightened aft by the discharge of a quantity of oil, which has been transferred to the Sir James Clark Ross. This afternoon the tug Dunedin lay alongside, but pumping operations were at a standstill, the C. A. Larsen’s pumps being quite able to handle the water as required. It is not intended to pump the forward end of the ship clear until the actual repair work has been put in hand, as it is feared that if too much water is removed the pressure of the sea will crumple the tank tops. five divers went down again tins afternoon, and it Is now proposed to dig a hole in the sand under the vessel so that the damage to the hull cart be estimated by divers, who can then walk underneath.

A great quantity of oil still surrounds the vessel, and to-day the sea along Iter bows on the starboard side was covered with a great sheet of thick, yellow scum like a stagnant pond. The work of blowing sand from under the ship will be commenced this week. Erections of timber are being driven into the sea bottom to prevent the htcoining tides refilling the hole. It is estimated that it will take ten weeks to complete operations and put plates over the holes.

The Sir Janies Clark Ross will sail for Norway on Wednesday, and will carry the captains of the C. A. Larsen and’the Star chasers home. The C. A. Larsen’s men who are not required at the base will have passages to Norway arranged at an early date. Mr. Rasmussen, son of one of the owners of the company, is on board the C. A. Larsen, and will remain at the base at Price’s Bay. He. stated . tliat he was learning the whaling business before returning to Norway next year to enter his father’s office. He was signed on the ship’s articles for tltc trip as an ordinary seaman, and has been working on the winches and meat deck. He is a graduate of a Norwegian university. ' "It is great experience,” he said, "but it is certainly hard work. Still, to run a business, one must see it from the point of view of those who work there. We ate vet v thorough in Norway, we learn everything we can.”