HISTORIE

 

Utdrag av historie fortalt av Allan Jackson, Durban:

 

        ODD hadde akkurat nådd innløpet til Durban etter en dags leting etter hval. I det ODD skulle entre innløpet oppstod en feil i styremaskinen med det resultat at roret låste seg og ODD svingte til styrbord og gikk på en båe nord for nordre utstikkers bølgebryter. Det var tung sjø den kvelden og ting så skummelt ut for den 14 manns store besetningen. En Hr Wardell, hadde fisket på odden av the Point og hadde åndsnerverelse nok til å få inn snøre og kaste det slik at det falt over dekket på ODD. Besetning festet så et tau til fiskesnøret og Hr.Wardell dro tauet i land med snøret og fikk festet tauet til jernbanelinjen som gikk langs bryggene. Besetningen var så klar til å dra seg i land med egen hjelp. Store bølger slo over dem etter som de dro seg i sikkerhet på land. Alt synes i orden inntil en stor sjø tok tak i to av dem og skylte dem over bord. ODD's kaptein, kaptein Averson, grep øyeblikkelig et tau og hoppet til sjøs og klarte å redde begge to.
        Avisen The Natal Mercury av 24 mars rapporterte at ODD var erklært som total forlist av hennes eiere, Union Whaling Company. Artikkelen sa at fartøyet lå på omtrent 6,5 mtrs dybde 30-40 meter fra bølgebryteren og at bare skorsteinen og masten var synlig.
        Uttalelser fra Wade Kidwell som har dykket i området mange ganger og noterer at de få restene av vraket må flyttes senere i år når innløpet skal utvides. Han sa at han håpet at de gjenværende delene ble tatt vare på.

 

        I don't suppose we'll ever know how many ships have come to grief in the immediate vicinity of Durban. A number of unlucky vessels have already been mentioned in these page and now, thanks to my informant Wade Kidwell, I can add the oddly-named Union Whaling Company whaler ODD to the list. The sinking of the ODD was reported in the Natal Mercury on 23 March 1949 and Wade very kindly typed typed out the article, and another which appeared the following day, and sent it to me.
        The
ODD apparently had apparently arrived off Durban at 7:30pm, on 22 March, after a day spent hunting for whales, and had been attempting to enter the harbour when her steering gear jammed. The vessel then swung to the right and ran aground on rocks just north of the north pier breakwater. The surf was apparently pretty heavy that night and things looked bleak for the crew of the ODD. Luckily for the 14-man crew however, a Mr Wardell, of 46 Gower Street, Umbilo, had been fishing off the end of the Point and had the presence of mind to reel in his line and cast it so that it fell across the deck of the stricken vessel.
        The crew then tied a rope to the fishing line and Mr Wardell pulled the rope to shore where he attached it to the railway line, which runs along the pier. The crew were then able to pull themselves hand-over-hand to shore. Large waves pounded the men as they made their way to safety but all seemed in order until a huge wave swept two crewmen away. The
ODD's skipper, Captain Averson, immediately grabbed a rope and dived into the sea, managing to rescue first one and then the other.
        The Natal Mercury of 24 March reported that the
ODD had been declared a total loss by her owners, the Union Whaling Company. The article said that the vessel was lying in about 15 feet of water about 20 yards from the breakwater and that only the funnel and mast were visible above the surface. Wade Kidwell tells me that he has dived in the area of the wreck many times and notes that the few remaining pieces will have to be removed later this year when the harbour mouth is widened. He said he hopes that the remains are relocated suitably and I can only echo those sentiments.