MISHAP TO VESSEL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20504, 21 May 1938, Page 7

MISHAP TO VESSEL

AGROUND ON A REEF ESCAPE FROM DESTRUCTION United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright SYDNEY, May 20 The new Port- Line motor-ship Port Saint John, which was refloated last Friday after being nine days on a reef off the Queensland coast, had the narrowest -escape from destruction, declared Captain A. Flett, master of the Sydney tug Heros. to-night. The Ileros has just returned from salvaging Ihe Port Saint John, which is now docked In Sydney. Captain Flett said the original intention was to try to tow the Port Saint- John off the reef at the highest tide of the month, last Saturday night, but bad weather and the eclipse of the moon, causing complete darkness on the Queensland coast, would have rendered the task quite futile. Salvaging, therefore, began on the Friday evening at the lop of the tide. Two of the most powerful tugs were aided by salvage anchors, placed 600, 900 and 1200 yards apart, from which cables were attached to the ship. To winy began at 5.4 5 p.m. The stranded ship would not budge, but the strain was maintained. The lugs’ furnaces were fed feverishly, and two hours later, just when the struggle seemed 100 unequal, the big vessel moved with a bump, rocked from side to side on the coral, and five minutes later came off with a dangerous rush, requiring the tugs to go ahead at full speed in order to take up tlie slack of the towlines.