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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 åndsnærværelse 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. |
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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. |