EXPERTS HOPEFUL OF SAVING SHIP

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5310, 24 January 1947, Page 5

EXPERTS HOPEFUL OF SAVING SHIP

(Press Assn.-

• ■#. ■ » ■ 1 'A " "v BAllLA'ST REMOVAL ' major preparations for refloat1ng

-By Telegraph—CopyrigktJ

WELLINGTON, Last Night. - In a statement to the Press/" r garding the Wanganella, the T/ ellington manager of the Iluddart Parker Company, Mr N. D.s McLean, said: "We are hopeful of saving the liner.*' Captain G. McDonald, majriite. underwriter and surveyor for Jhe company,. arrived in New Zealand by air and went on b iard to-day. The direction 3 of salvaging operations is in his hands. v '• ; "The condition of No. 1 and No. 2 holds is beyond immediate repair. The holes are so large that even the powerful pumps available will nOf keop the water down. The bulkhead between No. 2 and No. 3 holds ' is holding well and there is very little sign of deterioration in No. 3 hold, which is practically free of water. ."/ "Beyond that, there. is a very powerful bulkhead protecting ,.th« engine room and from that bulkhead aft the Wanganella appears as soundar. a bell. The matter of greatesfc importance is the continuation of fhe fine weather, which has been'excep-' tionally favourable. Last tnight. (Wednesday), a southerly threat-" ened for a time, hut it did not develcp. To-day was cairn: We hope fof good weather still. However, we have now two heavy anchors, backeck by mushroom anchors . out at the stern, operated upon by the shipfs winches." . Explosives May be Used . . . . Shore labour for two days has." been removing as much ballast ,as possible from tbe stranded liner. Tt is in the main, concrete slabs and, steel plates. This will improve the stability and, it is hoped, materially assist in rescuing the Wanganella from the reef. '* If the ship is not removed earlier, and if the fine weather continues, it is possible that explosives may be used to assist the refloating. Amaval expert in explosives has been made available by the Navy Department and drilling equipment and explosives are available if required. . As soon as possible, all members of the crew, whose services are not required will be returned to Australia. Lif e on the Wanganella is proceeding almost in routine fashion. Jusfc sufficient of the steward staff has been. retained on board for the requirements. The seamen have plenty to keep them occupied in salvage work. There are now about 350- shore labourers on board. Sidelights On Question Of Salvaging Liner Inquiries from overseas on behalf of salvage engineerlng firms, including an English one, . have been made in Wellington in regard to the Wanganella. Vari ous expert viewi in the city wero, sought by a reporter on this im-. portant matter. It was explained that a great deal depended on ,t|»e . extent of the damage.

If the ship were removed intact, repairs could be effected at the Wellington floating dock, which is stand-, ing prepared to receive the Wanganella. The vessel's dimensions were available at the dock, and most- of the blocks upon which the hull would rest. are in jtosition. Those which must await the divers' reports as tp 'the location of the injuries can.be set in quick time and without delay to entry. Regardless of what degree the vessel may be down at the bow, the doch can be trimmed longitudinally and transversely to bring the ship to rest without great difficulty. In the event of part of tbe bow having to be removed, it is considered possible that the ship could still be

repaired in the floating dock, the rer quired p^rts being prefabricated at plants which engaged in marine cohstruction during the war. New Zea--land engineers reached a high- degree of skill in shipbuilding between 1931) and 1945. „ Severing of Hull The head of one of New Zealand's largest firms capable of dealing with salvage on a big scale said there was insufficient equipment in New Ze&land to deal with the Wanganellashould she require the severapqe . pf •a large portion of the forwarfi': of the ship. • U •" . Should that be necessary, .-it/yj^s possible that a false bulkhead: coijid be built where the cut took placqj and the vessel taken to Austrpliaw possibly aided by her own stepm^ir' for repair there. Throughout ships which broke their ':bae%^'$& sccres of coasts were cut in twp^|jp surviving part sealed at the and towed to dock. • One of the authorities referred $§>- regarded the use of modfer.n epip^-* sives favourable, but. on the.;rqc|& themselves rather than on tHeiy^ssi^' where it would be difficult to localisfi the effect. . . To lay large charges^ under. wp^ against the rocks round whjck^ in cairn weather, the sWeli/.&fgls strongly, would be difficult.' ;'//■ At low tide, however, it ,- might^te possible to drill straight dbwn qpfi) the shelf and remove sufficient reef to permit the steamer-jth5 ali|e or be towed off, . Y * Any tendency of the ■ Wanganea», to break Up ahbulff a