VESSELS ADRIFT

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 55, 5 April 1930, Page 6

VESSELS ADRIFT

EXCITEMENT IN INNER HAR= BOUR. Ruru And Naumai Part Moorings. Checked By Old Westshore Bridge. Inside the inner harbour yesterday, several vessels remained alongside the wharf becaus© the dangerous conditions ruling at the harbour entrance made it too risky an undertaking to attempt to leave. At five o'clock yesterday morning the Union freigliter, "Waimea, safely negotiated tlie entrance from the outside and bertJied in the Iron Pot, but it was not deemed advisable to despatch another of the company's vessels, the Poolta. of 1675 tons, drawing 9ft. forward ' and 11ft. aft, which was due to leave for Greymouth. The trawling ffeet was also stormbound yesterday and to-day the lightering fleet was also idle, lightering to the Pakiha in the roadstead under suc-h conditions being an absolute _ impossibility. The waves were swinging right across the harbour entrance and after hitting the end of _ the Eastern Pier met the current coming down the channel and making the crossing both difficult and dangerous. CABLES SNAP. Last evening, about nine o'clock there was more excitement when the Ruru, Richardson and Co.'s old coastal steamer, which has been moored for som© tjme at the lower end of the West Quay in the vicinity of the Hawke's Bay Earmers' Co-operative Association's wool store. with the trawler Naumai moored alongside, parted her moorings. At the time there was a colossal rush of water down the harbour channel, the tide having almost reached its peak, and apparently chafing had worn away some of the moorings so that they were not able to stand th© heavy strain and snappecl. The current almost immediately swung the two vessels broadside on and with a crash against tlie piles of the Westshore bridge, wliere they remained lield as in a vice by the rush of water. The tugs Kuru and Coralie were requisitioned to get the larger vessel back to her moorings, but this proved a difficult task. After a while the winches _ of two lighters wero also brought into commission and after some heavy pulling the Ruru's bow swung clear to face the entrance to the harbour. but her stern remained fast. Ropes snapped under the strain. but all the efforts were'to no purpose and with the passing of high tide there' was a gradual lessenilig of hopes until it was decided shortly after midniglit to make the Ruru secure for the night and leave her with her stern settled on tlie'sand hank. This morning the vessel was hard and fast a few yards from the end of the wharf. Tlie other vessel apoeared to_ be resting on the piles of the old bridge. Later : The Ruru was successfuly refloated at high tide this morning and towed back to her original position at the wharf. the sam© nrocedure being followed with the other vessel.