WRECK OF THE LARSEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 287, 24 February 1928, Page 1

WRECK OF THE LARSEN

Anxiety At Stewart Island

TOTAL INSURANCE £350,000

Divers Investigating

(SIX'S Special Reporter.) HALFMOON BAY, Thursday. A PRELIMINARY inspection of the damage to the hull of the stranded whaling ship C. A. Larsen was made this afternoon by Diver Arthur of Port Chalmers, who found that the vessel is badly holed on the starboard side. The diver made two descents after 4 p.m. from the Bluff tug Theresa Ward, which is made fast to the C. A. Larsen He discovered about half a dozen holes in the ship s plating, some of them being of very considerable size, one rip ex tending a long way toward the midship section of the vessel.

tPHE forepart of the vessel is rest- ■ Ling on the bottom and is fuli of j water. There was no inrush, and the j diver was able to walk through one hole into an oil tank in the interior of the ship. A sudden movement of the ; vessel caused by a swell caused him to get out again in a hurry, fearing i that if she listed he would be trapped ■ and there was danger that his airline might be severed by the twisted plating. He made as complete a survey as was possible before returning to the surface, but as the ship has settled a little into the sand it was not possible to see whether there was any further damage under the bottom. Two more divers are expected from Port Chalmers to-mor-row, and this will enable a more complete inspection to be made, as they will be able to see that each others airlines are kept clear of the plating. QUESTION OF SALVAGE

Although the tug Dunedin has been j standing by the C. A. Larsen all day | to-day, she has done no pumping, and negotiations as to a ton basis on which payment for the work is to be made are understood to be still held up. It is stated that the Dunedin Harbour Board wishes the tug to work on a salvage basis, to which the owners of the vessel will not agree. It is hoped, however, that some arrangement will be made under which the Dunedin will be able to assist the Theresa Ward in pumping out the ship. The weather is fair and the sea calm, and at present there is no danger. Should there be a blow from between north and east, with a swell coming through the entrance to Paterson’s lalet, the position would be likely to cause anxiety on account of the tremendous strain on the hull, and the danger of the ship’s breaking her back. It is now definitely ascertained that after striking: the rock ledge on Tuesday evening between Faro Island and the neck, where the chart showed 13 fathoms, or 7Sft of water, whereas the ship was drawing only 30ft, the C. A. Larsen drifted eastward on the tide and dropped anchor. Then ,t was found that she was filling rapidly, and slipping the anchor cable, the vessel steamed for the Inlet, where Captain Neilsen intended to beach her in a safe positiop. She was entering the passage when she again struck in the centre at a spot where the chart showed 13 fathoms, this time on a muddy bot-

tom. Chasers were summoned to her assistance, and took her in tow. ;tnd. swinging her round, rushed her in toward Native Island, the C. A. Larsen's engines at the sime time going full speed astern. The ship was dragged and driven as far into the .-hallow water as she would go. and a kedge anchor was got out to keep her from swinging. It was fortunate that the ship could not be dragged any further up the Inlet, for between the spot at which she came to rest and Ulva Island there is deep water in which probably she would have sunk. The shallow water extends from iho ship’s present position toward Native Island, and it is in that d rection that she must be moved when an attempt is made to refloat her. A DIFFICULT TASK As yet there is no question of handing the vessel over to the underwriters for refloating, but Mr. • rawford. Lloyd’s surveyor at Dunedin, arrived this evening and a decision may be made on his report as t» whether the whaling company will undertake the task. It is generally considered that the job will be a Terv difficult one indeed. It is not yet known bow much whale oil has leaked out, but the starboard side of the ship is thought to be badly damaged from the forepeak to pretty well amidships, and it 's estimated on this basis that, oil to Ihe value of about £IOO,OOO was lost. It is stated authoritatively that the ship was insured for about 75 per cent, of the total value of the vessel and cargo, and that the total insurance amounted to £350,000.