WELLINGTON DOCK

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON DOCK

MOORING * WIRES SNAP. VESSEL RIDES AT* ANCHOR. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 29. In an exceptionally strong squall, at ? o’clock to-night, the mooring wires at the forward end of the Jubilee Dock parted. There had been a heavy, gusty northerly blowing all day: It had grown even stronger toward evening, but the tugs and the Harbour Board officials had finished in ■ uie middle of the afternoon the job; -of mooring the dock to a special wharf at the Thorndon end of the harbour. The vast surface of the dock wall was exposed at almost right, angles to the gale, and the strain became too much during the squall in the early evening for the forward mooring wires from the wharf to hold. One steel wire parted, and the other .wire stranded, and then the end of the dock began to move slowly away from the wharf. / The men on the dock and o.n the tugs rose to- the emergency, and the anchor was let go almost immediately from the forward end of the dock to hold the position and stop any further swing from the wharf. A considerable length of anchor chain was let out, and the dock was finally brought up still broadside to the wind. Meanwhile, at the after end of the dock additonal mooring wires were run between the dock and the wharf, and fastened. It now had become dark and there was considerable anxiety. The Harbour Board officials and employees, including the Harbqurmaster, Captain J. Spence, were hurriedly summoned. Immense Manila hawsers, which, as it happened, were not required, were rushed along the waterfront to the remote Jubilee Dock Wharf. The Harbourmaster and the tug masters took stock of the situation. The tug masters had already taken the principal steps, and as the evening wore on, the wind slackened. •When the Harbourmaster arrived earlier in the Wening, he remarked to a { reporter: “We’ll he here all night.” He left, however, two bouts later, being satisfied that the dock would be all right. The present intention is to move the dock early to-morrow morning and moor it along the Thorndon breastwork whim certain adjustments are being made to the moorings. The accident, just before dusk, was seen from the northern suburbs, and the news spread. The 'fjjrst rumour, was that the dock had broken away fore and aft. At present the dock is holding against a light northerly wind with reinforced mooring wires at the after end and the anchor at the forward end. It is considered safe for the' night. -> TRIBUTE TO DUTCHMEN. A £250,000 VENTURE. ' WELLINGTON, December 29. Interviewed on the dock wharf while the dock was being permanently moored to-day, the Acting-Chair-man of the Harbour Board (Mr H. D. Bennett) said that the Board never contemplated the dock would be selfsupporting. It might truly be said that the dock represented a capital expenditure of a quarter of a million. The Board regarded this investment as national, valuable alike to other big ports as to Wellington itself. The dock, as it now was, could accommodate a ship in excess of 587 feet long, and drawing 26 feet. Its lifting capacity was 17,000 tons. Provision had been made so that another section could be added, which would give the dock capacity for a 20,000 tonner. One of the greatest and most costly matters for concern had been the risk of delivery of the dock, the towing and insurance nearly equalling the construction cost. To Captain Hart and his fellow countrymen, Mr Bennett ( said the Board extended it heartiest congratulations on the successful termination of the undertaking, classed by Lloyd’s and seafaring fraternity as being difficult and dangerous. Great interest is being manifested in th© operation of tying the dock up at its permanent abode. Reciprocal greetiiigs have been exchanged between the Harbour Board and the Dutch owners of the tugs by cable, in connection with .the completion of the tow.