AFLOAT IN DOCK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 27 May 1947, Page 6

AFLOAT IN DOCK

TEST OF_ REPAIRS MUCH WATER IN SHIP No. 2 HOLD FLOODED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 2fi. Shortly al'ter 10 o’clock this morning flooding of t he Ho?.Ting dock Lctfan. Twenty minutes later the hull of the Wanganeila felt the first loueli of the sea since February .IS. The water rose slowly till the flooding ceased, while the sealing of the forward holds was checked for leaks. At 11.20 am. the dock was lowered another 4ft. Work was discontinued at 11.45 a.m. when the men left the ship for lunch. The test is proceeding satisfactorily, according to Captain D. E. Eadie, marine superintendent of the Huddart, Parker, Limited. When the testing of the concrete packing sealing the forward holds was completed, he said, the compressors would be brought into action. If all went well, he added, it was hoped to move tlic 'Wanganclla today to Clyde Quay wharf. „ , Simultaneous with the flooding of me dock, the ballast tanks, in the ship s stern were being filled with water to give stability when the ship floated. The most impressive sight during the operation was the rush of water into No. 2 hold. Much of the damaged plating lias been removed in that aiea, leaving a hole big enough to row a dinghy through. There seemed to be as much watei inside the ship as in the clock.