Tug crew battle high winds to salvage warship

11.45am

The New Zealand tugboat sent to salvage a crippled British warship at Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea has been riding out 60-knot gusts as it prepares its tow lines.

The Pacific Chieftain was commissioned by British defence authorities to tow the guided missile destroyer HMS Nottingham to Australia after the ship hit rocks at Lord Howe Island on July 7 and began taking water.

Several compartments, including the Sea Dart missile magazine, the forward engine room and several sleeping compartments were flooded as water surged through several large holes in the bow.

Two New Zealand navy ships, the tanker HMNZS Endeavour and the frigate HMNZS Te Mana rushed to the aid of the badly damaged ship with timber shoring, water and fuel.

The large baulks of timber shoring are now holding steel plates and packing over the holes. The ship's crew is preparing for a stern-first tow from Lord Howe Island to an Australian port, either Sydney or Brisbane.

Andy Neville, of Swire Pacific Offshore Maritime Limited which operates Pacific Chieftain, the largest tug in New Zealand, said they had yet to be told where the warship would be taken for repairs in Australia.

He said the tow was unlikely to begin for another week.

Another tug, the Austral Salvor, had also been sent to Lord Howe Island for the salvage. During the tow Pacific Chieftain would take the stern towline and Austral Salvor would be on the bow to steady the ship for the 300 nautical mile tow to Australia.

Mr Neville said there was not a lot the tugs could do until the warship was ready to be towed.

He said the weather had been variable since the tug arrived last week.

"During the weekend it was quite rough. We had gusts up to 60 knots."

He said the tugs would not begin the tow in such bad conditions but if the sea and wind got up after the tow began the tug would virtually heave to and sit out the storm, using the tug's engines to maintain its position and take the strain off the towing gear.

The Pacific Chieftain left New Plymouth with 500 tonnes of fuel and still had 400 tonnes in its tanks. There were no refuelling facilities at Lord Howe Island.

Most of the crew of the British warship had returned to England the Ministry of Defence said. About 30 would remain aboard during the tow.

The ship is without main engine power although it was believed to have its generators working to supply some essential services.

- NZPA

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