SHIPPING MISHAP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1939, Page 6

SHIPPING MISHAP

WAIKOUAITI AGROUND NEAR BLUFF. FORMER GERMAN VESSEL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. While on a voyage from Sydney, the Union Steam Ship Company's intercolonial vessel Waikouaiti ran aground near Bluff at about 9 o’clock last night, and early this morning was believed to be still hard and fast. The first word that sortiething was wrong was contained in a wireless message from the master, Captain Bruce, to the harbourmaster, Captain M. N. B. Haszard, who happened to be on his way way from Dunedin at the time. The message was passed on to the board's secretary, Mr R. M. Porter. Captain Haszard arrived at Bluff just after the harbour board’s pilot launch had set out to look for the Waikouaiti.The launch was recalled by Morse signals. By 1 a.m. the stranded ship had evidently been located and Captain Haszard was aboard the vessel, as a message was received by Mr Porter to send for the tug Awarua. The mishap came at a particularly bad time for the harbour board, as its tug is at Port Chalmers undergoing an; overhaul. Instructions were immediately sent to Port Chalmers to undock the tug and bring her to Bluff, and it was thought that she would be ready to sail at 7 a.m. today. Built in Germany in 1914, the 3926ton steamer Waikouaiti (then German owned and named the Irmgard) was taken over after the war by the Union Steam Ship Company. She is well-known on the New Zealand coast and has been engaged chiefly in the trade between Sydney and Newcastle and South Island ports. In recent years she was regularly in this trade till replaced a few months ago by a new vessel. The master of the Waikouaiti is Captain J. Bruce, the first officer is Mr S. C. Angus, the second officer Mr C. A. Spencer, and the third officer Mr J. W. Wilson. ) The mishap recalls that about 15 years ago a Union Steam Ship Company vessel the Konini. on her maiden passage from England- went ashore between Ocean Beach and Bluff Harbour at night in thick weather. The ship's company took to the lifeboats, which were towed safely into port. The ship was a complete loss. SHIP STILL FAST. ALL MEMBERS OF CREW SAFE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. The Waikouaiti ran ashore on the south-west corner of Dog Island, Foveaux Strait, in a I'og at 9 o'clock last night. She was still last this morning. The sea is calm. All members of the crew are safe. The ship was bound from Sydney to Lyttelton direct. Captain J. Bruce is in command.