TRAWLER STILL AGROUND

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 49, 13 March 1937, Page 4

TRAWLER STILL AGROUND

Tugs* Effort to Refloat Her Unsuccessful CREW'S EXPERIENCE The trawler Morina, which rau agrOund on the Waikanae fceach at Gisborne on Thursday night is still high and dry, and untii sea conditions show signs of abating, it will not be possible to attempt to saivage the vessel. At high ti.de last evening, between 4 and 5 o'clock, the Gisborne Lightering and Stevedoring Company's tugs, Hipi and Karoro left port with tho object of pulling the trawler into deep "water. On arrival near the spot, how;-' ever, it was found that a heavy sea was still mnning and there was too much surf to enable the tugs to get in close enough to .the shore. It was therefore decided to postpone the attempt until high tide at five o'clock this morning. The Marina, a 10-ton steam trawler, is 70 feet long, with a beam of 15 feet and draws eight feet. -Yesterday the stranded vessel was visited by a large xrumber of interested people, being tied 'Up to a tree above the fiigh- water mark. Capptain A. P. Johnson, who is in charge of the Marina, states- that after over-running the leading lights into the Gisborne harbour, the first intimation of anything unusUal was the sound of the breakers on the Wakainae beach. Instructi.ons were at once given to the engineer to . go astern and the little vessel answered admirably. It was no use, however, for the next second the fierce breakers carried her inwards. Timo after time efEorts were made, but the force of the sea proved irresistible. Finally seeing that grounding was inevitable the order was given full spee.d ahead and the vessel went up on the beach as far as possible. The visibility at the time was good. One member of the crew had quite an unusual experience. The vessel carries an aerial, and he was lying in his bunk listening to a thrilling play being broadcast. In the midst of a particularly exciting incident the unusual noise of the breakers and shouta from above saw him dash hurriedly on deokThere for the next quarter of an honr or so he had more thrills than he could have experienced in the play. Now however, that the excitement is over he. wonders what was the end of tho play. The trawler is covered by insurance with the South British Company, the policy having been taken out at Napier when arrangements were being made for the journey to Tauranga. The problem of saivage does not appear to be a serious one, but it is evident that the work cannot start until surf conditions are calmer. v