DAMAGED LINER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10317, 28 January 1927, Page 5

DAMAGED LINER

YESTERDAY’S OPERATIONS. another hole discovered. ARRIVAL OF WELLINGTON TUGS. PUMPING WORK PROCEEDING,

HUGE SHEEPSKIN MATS TAKEN OUT TO SHIP. The discovery of another hole in the Hull of the Federal Steam Navigation Coy’s liner now in the roadstead, about five feet in length and about the same distance aft of the gaping rent loft long and 2ft wide'-on the No. 2 hold bilge, was the outstanding feature of the salvaging operations of the steamer yesterday. Despite pumping operations, winch have proceeded incessantly since 10 p.ro. yn Wednesday, _ supplemented early vestordav morning by two pumps of the tug Terawhiti, the position of the vessel, except for a slight lessening of her list to port, is practically unchanged. The continued fine weather yesterday, and the arrival in the morning of the Union Steam. Ship Co.’s tug Terawhiti and the Wellington Harbor Board’s tug Toia _ with powerful pumping and salvaging gear aboard raised the hopes of those on the Northumberland that the salving ol tiis vessel would he quickly accomplished, but the task proved .more difficult than was at first imagined. According to an official statement is.-ued yesterday morning by the ma-

nager of the New Zealand Shipping • Coy’s Gisborne branch, the Teravjfiiiti ranged up alongside the NortlifUii'horiaiid at 8.45 a.m. and transhipped a portable pump, which was immediately rigged on the steamer. An 'hour and a-quarter later pumping was proceeding steadily, and the level of the water ill the holds was being lowered slowly. About half an. hour Inter the Terawhiti connected up her big salvage pumps across the ’tween decks into No. 2 hold. The Toia was standing by jirepared to render assistance. ‘'The situation is quite favorable/’ stated the report. “Captain Olphert, marine superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Co., is aboard the Northumberland, directing the continuance of the salvage

work.” discovery of second hole. The discovery, of another hole in the hull late on Wednesday night occasioned some surprise, and the secmid collision mattress that was being manufactured for the purpose of lioTstering up the mat secured into position In the early hours of Wednesday moning had to be diverted-to patching the new hole. The newlyimuul hole was situated about five feet aft of the larger bole and was n bout oft long in the shape of a crack and slightly higher on the bilge. The probabilities are that, although only one shock shook the Northumberland when she struck the .submerged rock she apparently collided with two pinnacles, one slightly IrigluT than the other. That the vessel struck a submerged rock is evident from the fact that in one of the boles in t-lic hull a considerable amount of papa rock lodged.

OIL TANK DAMAGED BY COLLISION. Further than that it is evident that the oil tank between the skin and- the false bottom of the vessel was holed by the object, by reason of the fact that immediately the Northumberland struck, one of the cadets noticed a stream of water and oil shoot into the air from out of the mil- vents from the oil tank below No. 3 hold. This tank was, however, •empty at the time, but no doubt there was some oil lying- in the bot•Kiiii of the reservoir juid when the lank was holed the inrush of water and oil up the vent would account for rlioiphenomenon which was witnessedTXThat the tank has been damaged ring? also be gauged from tne iact that there is a considerable amount of oil in the holds and in the water delivered from the pumps. Optimistic views of salvaging the vessel are held, but some anxiety is felt for the safety of the bulkheads net ween the three holds, on which n severe strain is being imposed by the water internally and the heavy pressure externally.

PUMPING OUT NO. 2 HOLD. A forward move in connection with pumping operations was made about LO p.m. on Wednesday, when Mr D. Goodman’s Sin. centrifugal pump was put in commission in- No •j hold and, although the plant was not running at full bore, and stopping occasionally throughout the night for adjustment, pumping had induced the level of the water oy Aft by the time the Wellington tugs arrived on the scene. The Terawhiti transhipped a portable pump which was put into commission by 10 a.in. yesterday on No. 2 hold, and slitthen connected up a powerful salvage* six-inch pump into the hold wa. pipeline across the 'tween decks and with the other two pumps driven on deck by the steamer’s steam power, a large quantity of water was beiiu* delivered from No. 2 hold. The operations were proceeding smoothly until about 11 a.m., when the water commenced to flow in as quickly as it was pumped put. It is holered that this was clue to the fact that one ot the wire ropes under the vessel’s hull binding the collision mat to tlie hull, which had been at inched to a winch, had been removed, and the pump poured a cascade ot water over the side between the colision mat and the steamer’s side The wire ropes were tightened up and pumping operations were resumed, hut up to late last night- not a great deal of progress had been mads. Pumping continued incessantly with the Harbor Board's pump in No. I Iw'.d. which reduced-the water level by Swirly Bft.„ and then the pump was transferred to No. 2 hold, lo* fear that further- pumping in No. 1 would impose an excessive strain on the bulkheads. Kfv FEET LES-S IN NO. 3 HOLD The water in No. 3 hold has also been reduced by about 6ft, but apar, from a lessening of the list to port, t here is no great change in the vessel’s position, there still being about Hilt of water in the main portion ot the damaged hull in N'o. 2 hold. MORE COLLISION MATS BEING MADE. Efforts wore being concentrated last evening in making a new 60ife collision mat to cover the two mats now in position over the holes in the hull, and- it is hoped to lower this into position at some time this morning. It is understood that none of me cargo which was lightered or. Tuesday night and brought ashore ha-', been landed in the sheds as yet. as ihe men claimed salvage rates li; 1 discharging the cargo. SHEEPSKIN mat to- coyer

HOLES. The best form of collision mat lor placing over the holes in the hull caused some doubt, and it was first considered that metal sheets would la- most suitable. Late last evening, however, -a scheme of making a metal collision mat was abandoned and it was decided that the best form would be one composed of sheep skins so the staff of the G.S.M. and M. Co., Ltd,, \vere immediately set . to work to' - prepare the first portion of this mat. : ; . .

The work proceeded expeditiously,’ lud shortly l>efore 1 a.m. to-day the first portion was ready and was taken out to the Northumberland by. the

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Tn a tea which left -the wharf about 1.30 a.m. "Meantime the workmen were busy with the preoaration of the second portion which was expected to _ be completed by 7 a.m. to-day. Ibis portion will then he taken out to the vessel and the work of joining the two pieces will he performed by the men on board her. . This operation completed, the next job will be the placing of the mat in position over the holes in the hull. Whether this will be sufficient to render her seaworthy enough to proceed to a main port remains to be seen.

FI tv-. SUPERINTENDENT CLAIMS BRIGADE PLANT SUITABLE. The availability of the Fire Bri-, o-ade’s trailer pumps for operations on the Northumberland was commented upon by Superintendent J, Kane yesterday. - . He claimed that the pumps, by reason of their compactess could have beeh easily transported to the steamer and fitted up. The overall measurement of the machines was only 7ft. bv sft. while they stood less than 6tt hioh. and weighed less than 14cwt. it" would he readily seen, therefore, that tliev could easily have been taken out to the Northumberland, and, if necessary, could have been operated while still in the slings Each of these pumps has a capacity of 300 ballons a minute, so that with their aid it would be possible to rem'ovo another 600, gallons of water each minute from the vessel a hold. POWER BOARD PLANT LANDED AT AUCKLAND. The Poverty Bay Power Board was among the fortunate Gisborne importers whose goods were landed by the ill-fated Northumberland m Auckland' before she sailed for Napier. The equipment for tiie Powei Board, which was worth fully £BOOO, comprised two alternators for the new units, which are not yet shipped sevem switchboard panels and the whole of the transformers, all ot which are so delicate in construction that had they come into contact with salt water delivery would have ha to-be refused and'a new order placed with a consequent serious delay to the Board’s operations, m that there would be no chance of increasing the power .supply as proposed before., the Winter months and a revision of the finances.