A HAZARDOUS VOYAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1928, Page 3

A HAZARDOUS VOYAGE

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 27. An adventurous voyage of 86 days, from Antwerp was experienced by tho Belgian steamer Seheklepas, which reached Auckland on Friday night. The vessel sailed from Antwerp on March Ist with 70CO tons of basic slag for Auckland and Wellington. AVlien off the Azores Islands she encountered a fierce north-west storm and mountainous seas, which washed away her ventilators and other deck fittings. After battling with tlie storm for three days, the vessel was liove-to for 16 hours to secure the tarpaulins and deck gear. She then ran before the storm for another lour days. Near the Mareira Islands tho weather moderated and the vessel was then headed for Jamaica to replenish her bunkers. When nearing Jamaica the captain was advised by wireless that no coal was obtainable at that port owing to a strike of the coal-heavers, and the same conditions also prevailed at St. Thomas, another nearby coaling port in the® West Indies, and in consequence the Seheklepas had to divert from her course and go to Newport News, U.S.A., where she obtained 90!) tons of bunker coal, and resumed her voyage. AVlien on route from Newport News to Colon, a terrific cyclone was reported only 110 miles from the Sclieldepas. but the steamer was not affected by the storm. At Colon more bunker coal- was obtained, and the vessel cleared Balboa on April 12th. Six days later, during dull overcast weather, she collided with a submerged derelict, and afterwards sprang a leak. The accident occurred at 9.40 p.m. The .steamer struck tho derelict with her stern, and then kept bumpthc derelict as it passed along the port side, but out of sight. A sounding of the steamer’s hold immediately afterwards did not reveal any water, but next morning there was two feet of water in the forepeak. At midday the water in the peak bad increased to four feet, so the captain decided to make for Papeete. Two days before the vessel reached Papeete the peak had filled, and the water was pressing severely against tlie No. 1 bulkhead.

After reaching Papeete on May 7th. the cargo was shifted from the forepart of No. 1 hold to clear the rose boxes in tlie bilges. The pumps were also repaired and afterwards the crew could cope with the leak. Five days later, after the hunkers had again been replenished, the voyage was resumed. Two days after clearing Papeete the ship encountered the same cyclone as that which did so much damage to the steamer Rimutaka. For two days the Sell el do pas was like a submarine with the seas breaking all over her decks. Owing to the seas washing into the galley, no cooking was done on board during that period, and the crew had to grope their way along the decks by clinging to the life lines. To ease the pressure on the forepeak, the vessel was put before the storm, which began to moderate on the evening' of May 16th. The swell and seas continued heavy, but the weather was moderate after that for tlie remainder of the voyage.

It. is expected the vessel will have to ho docked for repairs before she leaves New Zealand.