LINER’S MISHAP

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1927, Page 1

LINER’S MISHAP

NORTHUMBERLAND ” STRIKES ItOCK.

[by TELEGRAFH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

GISBORNE, January 25

Word was received at Gisborne shortly alter three o’clock to-day from tho Federal liner Northumberland, stating that she had struck a submerged object and was making lor Gisborne. Tho mishap is believed to have occurred near Cable End Foreland.

The ship arrived in the bay about ! .30. She was met by launches. In one hour ill the bay the vessel had sunk two feet, but she is now holding her own.

A diver is being sent for. The damage is mostly confined to Number Tito hold.

The cargo from Number Three hold is being discharged. It is understood that there is watetin Numbers One, Two and Three holds. Tfhe Northumberland was on her way from Aucklalid to Napier, in .continuance of her voyage from Liverpool. VESSEL STRIKES ROCK. WELLINGTON, .January 25. At three o’clock, stated a wireless message, the Northumberland, which bad struck a submerged rock, was four miles oif Gisborne, and was heading for that port. She had water in number two hold, in which there was 900 tons of cargo, being part of 4000 tons for discharge at Wellington. The salvage tugs ‘•Tom” and ‘•Toruwhiti ” have left Wellington for the Northumberland with powerful pump iug equipment. XAL’iEK, January 25. '1 In " Northumberland ” has 1,000

sons ot cargo for Napier, most of which is stowed in. No. ,'i hold. To-night the Richardson steamer "Kuau” took an eight-inch centrifugal pump, secured from the Public Works Department to Gisborne. !i is Imped iliat it will enable l-he "Noithuinbcriand ” In cope with Ihe water until the arrival of the two tugs. P.UiTU.'DEARS OK U ISiiAl*. CISiiORN’K. January 25. l! was at about I Jill ii.m. ulii'ii the Federal liner "Northumberland” was steaming fourteen knots ou the usual course from Auckland to Napier, between Tualiiue Point and Gable Etui Foreland, that she felt a heavy shock, ami temporarily slopped, laves ligations showed that the ship hail struck a submerged object abaft the forecastle. The ship was last making water in Number Two bold, so a course was set for Gisborne at full speed. Ou her arrival, the vessel was met b,v Captain Holmes in the Harbour, Board launch, and was taken to a spot two miles off the Waikane Reach, the intention being, if the ship should show signs of sinking, to beach her.

As the ship was coming in, strenuous efforts were made to place a mattress over when' it was assumed the hole was situated. On her anchoring about p.m. tlm shin showed a heavy list on the port side forward. Another effort was made to place a mattress over the side, and the work was successful. Owing to tho fact that the hole could not be definitely located, however, this work proved of no use. The ship still continued to.settle down forward. About 5.30 it was found that the vessel was holding her own, there being at that time thirty-six feet of

water in Number Two hold, about 20 feet in Number One bold, and 15 feet in Number Three hold. The Harbour Board launc-h came in for more gear and a pump, and she took out men lo shift tlie cargo in Numbers One and Three holds, with the intention of removing the cargo from the port side, and bringing the ship on to a. flat keel.

It was not till nearly S o’clock that the U.S.S. Coy’s tender returned to the Northumberland with the pumps and "ear. In the meantime, a large "an" of watersiders came out in the Harbour Board launch, and tlic unloadin" work was commenced. At six o’clock a diver made a. lengthy examination of the hull on the starboard side, and on crossing under the ship the diver located the bole which was twelve feet long and nearly two feet wide. It was on the bilge near Number Two hold. The hole was entirely uncovered, the mattress being some distance away. Efforts wore then devoted to making a collision mat of tarpaulins and bedding mattresses, and at 1.1 o’clock to-night this work was still proceeding. Towards mid-night it was a. case of only the bulkheads keeping the ship afloat, while the cargo from Numbers One and Three holds was being discharged into three lighters, and in addition, the tug “Kararo,” the TJ.S.S. Coy’s ferry boat “ Tuatc ” and the Harbour Board’s launch were standing by the Northumberland.

The liner arrived at 'Auckland on January 13th from Liverpool with general cargo for the main ports, and she loft Auckland at four p.m. yesterday. She lias still four thousand tons aboard for Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. THE DAMAGED STEAMER.. GISBORNE, Jan. 26. Salvage plans on the Northumberland include the reduction of water in the affected hold by extensive pumping operations, the shoring up of tho damaged plates from tho interior of tbe hull, and eventually concreting over the hole to stiffen tho plates and allow tho vessel to proceed to a dry dock. Tlic weather is most favourable. Salvage tugs from Wellington arrive late tonight. Meanwhile auxiliary pumps are being erected and the ship’s full pumping power is being exerted to keep the water down. LATEST NEWS. GISBORNE, Jan. 26. It was reported from Northumberland that at S a.m. tho pumps bad reduced the level of water in No. 1 hold considerably, though tho depth Has not yet been stated. The collision mat had been fixed over the rent in the vessel at No. 2 bold. Tho crew aro preparing to shore up the bulkheads on tH either side of No. 3 hold. Portion of ibe cargo from No. three hold has be n removed and the ship is now more on an even keel. Lighters this morning were taking out, heavy Balk timber to bo used in shoring up operations.