MISHAP TO MOTOR SHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1939, Page 9

MISHAP TO MOTOR SHIP

WHILE ENTERING GREYMOUTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, This Day. The wooden motor-ship Gael, of 45 tons .while entering port this morning from Jackson’s Bay, struck a tiphead, badly damaging her bow and springing several planks. She reached the wharf leaking seriously. Captain Tregidga stated: “Although the bar was dangerous and signals hoisted, I considered there was not too much of a sea, for the vessel had often made port under worse conditions. I believed the signals referred to larger vessels, which had been in the roadstead for several days, and, as had happened previously, my approach from the south had not been noticed by the signalman. Unfortunately, a big sea caught the stern of the Gael, which, owing to her unloaded condition, was difficult to handle.”

The vessel is being beached at the Cobden slip this afternoon. Meantime the pumps are operating. A crew of seven and four passengers were aboard the Gael. The vessel, which was built at Glasgow in 1903, formerly was owned by the Northern Shipping Company, and was purchased by the South Westland Company in 1928. and converted to a Diesel in 1930.