RIMUTAKA FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 5

RIMUTAKA FIRE

OUTBREAK COMPLETELY SUBDUED SHIP EXPECTED IN AUCKLAND ON FRIDAY. EXTENT OF DAMAGE NOT YET KNOWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Yesterday afternoon the New Zealand Shipping Company received a radio message from the commander of the Rimutaka, Captain C. B. Lamb stating that the fire in No 3 hold had been got well under control, that the Rimutaka was proceeding to Auckland, and that the Yomachichi had resumed her interrupted passage to New York. According to the information received by the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Rimutaka was about 1000 miles from Auckland when the outbreak of fire was discovered in No 3 hold. The extent of the damage to the ship and her cargo cannot be ascertained definitely till the Rimutaka arrives at Auckland and a survey can be made.

Last night the New Zealand Shipping Company received a further radio message from Captain Lamb stating that the fire had been completely subdued .and that the Rimutaka was expected to arrive at Auckland at 10 o’clock on Friday night. READY TO HELP CRUISER LEANDER ORDERED TO STAND BY. QUICK PREPARATION MADE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 10. A sequel to the drama of the fire on the Rimutaka occurred today when Devonport naval base was plunged into activity as the cruiser Leander, flagship of the ■ New Zealand Squadron, prepared to stand by to render aid to the liner acting on instructions from the Navy Office, Wellington. The Leander was quickly prepared for a dash to the scene of the fire, the ratings being recalled from shore leave and complete steps taken to put to sea. The plans were cancelled, however, on the receipt of wireless advice from the Rimutaka at 4.30 this afternoon indicating that no assistance was required. No copies of the stowage plan of the Rimutaka have yet been received by the Auckland office of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and no indication can be given of the cargo possibly affected by the fire. The question of fixing the general average on the cargo will be decided following an investigation after the liner’s arrival, but it is announced that there will be no delay in discharging. The Rimutaka has a large shipment to be discharged at Auckland and Wellington.

One of the most dreaded of all dangers to which a ship at sea may be subjected, the menace of fire is now greatly lessened by the application of many protective and preventive devices. Many modern ships are fitted with a sensitive automatic fire equipment, but it is understood that the Rimutaka, in company with the majority of vessels trading to New Zealand has only inspection methods as a safeguard. Though the passenger accommodation is under constant supervision, the cargo space is inspected only at intervals, a system which is practical generally only in fine weather. Even an actual outbreak at sea today does not hold the same dangers as in the past. The organisation to tackle a fire by hoses and chemical equipment has been almost perfected and modern ships have been designed and built to isolate any conflagration to a large degree. The use of wireless telegraphy as another safeguard, strikingly shown in hundreds of cases, was again brought into play in the case of the Rimutaka, which was able to advise adjacent shipping of her plight and to bring to the scene the American motor-ship Yornachichi.