The Shanghai Tug & Lighter Ca., Ltd, has recently completed an ocean, tow of some magnitude. As is generally known, the Chinese Government awarded the contract, for the construction of a breakwater! and harbour at Hulutao some months ago to the well-known contractors, the Netherlands Harbour Works Ca, which only recently completed the new harbour at Macao.
Hulutao is a bleak promontory nated almost in the northwest mer of the Gulf of Pechihli, ome 90 miles to the northeast of Chin-nantao and the question of tra porting the necessary construction plant tae distance of some 1,600 miles from Macao to Hulutao had to be considered. Eventually,—the Shanghai Tug & Lighter Co.'s tender was accepted for the towage of six barges, mostly of the hopper type, loaded' with machinery, launches, deck barges and plant, the tug Otto, and the sheer legs Hercules, and the tugs Saucy, 614 tons gross, 1800 ihp, and St, Sampson, 451 tons 1200 ih.p., were detailed for Undertaking. These: two tugs: sailed from Shanghai on March 20, arriving at Macao three days later, On the morning of March 27, the tugs left Macao, the Saucy with three loaded barges and the St. Sampson with two loaded barges the tug Otto in tow. Shortly fatter clearing the harbour, a dense fog shut down which compelled the masters of the tugs to anchor with their tows until 11 a.m, on March 28, When the fog cleared partially, the tugs were able to resume their, Yovare, At 1.6, clock the mame evening, Waglan Light was passed and fairly fine weather was experienced until after Breaker Point was reached, when dirty weather commenced to set in with a strong breeze and a nasty sca from the northeast which caused the tow labour heavily and ship heavy water.
'The weather gradually got worse id, at 5.20 a.m. on March 31, when lapel Island' wae abeam, the weather had freshened to a gale with high seas, 'The tugs, with their tows, were making very heavy. weather of it and made no headway. Shortly afterwards, on due consideration, Captain Josefsen of the Saucy,' who was in charge of the tows, finally decked, for the safety Jof the tows, to run for Amoy Outer Harbour for shelter and, shortly after noon on that day, the tugs /were anchored in Amoy, outer har= hour. It was then proved that Captain Josefsen's decision to run for shelter had been most wise, for, on examination, it was found' that certain units of the tows had sustained structural damage and were lenking and, if the tow had been continued in that heavy weather, it, 's probable that the damaged units Jof the tow might have foundered with their valuable cargoes. Furthermore, it might have entailed serious loss of life.
As it was found impossible to dry. dock the damaged barges in Amoy, the only alternative was to beach them and this was consequently done, but} owing to the few hours available for work by this method, the necessary repairs were not com. pleted until the afternoon of April 9.
At 6 am. on April 10, the tugs once more resumed their voyage, experiencing moderately fair weath-for and smooth seas until 4 am, on April 12, when it commenced to breeze up from the north-northeast} with a nasty sea rising which caused the tows to labour heavily. One of the barges comprising the St. Sampson's tow repeatedly carried away her wheel chains and this increased the difficulties of this tow. At 7.20 am. on April 14, two of the barges of this tow collided with each other with the result that one sustained damage to her bow. By} this time, the tows were in the vicinity of Bonham Pass and Captain Josefsen, discovering that one of his, units was very much down by the bows and apparently on the verge of sinking, came to anchor under Napier Island for the purpose of effecting repairs. With the aid of the tug's salvage pumps and cement, succeeded in carrying out and completing repairs by 6 am. the same day when he resumed his voyage, arriving at Hulutao at noon on April 19, Shortly: after arrival a strong northeasterly gale sprang: tup and Captain Josefsen received instractions to take his tow to New-chuang and deliver it st that port.
Before the Saucy anchored at Napier Island, the laodah of one of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.