C. A. LARSEN MAY BE DOCKED IN 3 WEEKS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6545, 29 February 1928, Page 7

C. A. LARSEN MAY BE DOCKED IN 3 WEEKS

Work at Refloating Progressing Rapidly HOW CAPTAIN PREVENTED ' TOTAL WRECK _ ..y ■ (Per Press Association.) e , INVERCARGILL, Last Night... Work on the C. A. Larsen is progressing rapidly. The timber ordered is being shaped to over the holes in her sides. The temporary plates will be held on by the timbers, and it is expected that with the aid of her pumps sho can reach Port Chalmers where arrangements have been made to dock her. It is expected that sho will be able to proceed north in about three weeks’ time. Another medium-sized hole has been discovered on the port side slightly forward of the meat deck, but it can easily bo repaired . It is stated that the vessel has sunk another eighteen inches in the sand forward. A sailor on board states that if it were not for tho presence of mind of tho captain when the vessel ran ashore last week tho hull would have been torn right out and she would have immediately sank as soon as she touched. 'Captain Ncilsen put tho engines full astern and sho came off to starboard swinging clear of the rocks as %io head took the holm. It is understood the captain wished to lay out all night instead of coming up the Inlet against slackening water, but'was advised by one of the owners who was on board to go straight up to the base at Price ’s Bay. No marine inquiry will bo', held: in New Zealand but there will bo a perfunctory affair, the principal enquiry being in Norway. The insurance'companies are all Norwegian. Those on board the C. A. Larsen statp that since the disaster star chasers have taken soundings all round tho entrance of the Inlet and up to where tho vessel, now lies and have found that the depths as marked on tho charts are wrong, in some cases being as much as four fathoms out, the nearest to correct being one marked fourteen fathoms on, the chart which was found to be thirteen when sounded. Sir James, Clark Ross sailed fpr : Norway via Panama this morning and will call at Now York where the greatest portion of her cargo will be discharged.