10th April. The anniversary of the WAHINE disaster

10th April. The anniversary of the WAHINE disaster
As we look back on a week of tragic events at sea, a reminder of one of the worst disasters in New Zealand's maritime history, on this day 10th April, 1968

After a week where we have seen a wave of incidents on the sea, notably the sinking of SEA DIAMOND with what appears to be the loss of two of its passengers in the Aegean, but also sinkings of cargo vessels with the loss of crew, it is sobering indeed to think that for all our ingenuity and modern equipment, the sea is very much our master at all times.

Thankfully such incidents are rare nowadays compared to the early days of sail or indeed steam, when sinkings and loss of life were almost a daily occurrence. Without satellite systems, with little regards to safety aids, sailors and passengers alike were at the mercy of currents, winds, tides and the standards of navigational knowledge.

In modern times we tend to forget that the least mischance or miscalculation can indeed have tragic consequences, or that at any time nature can take complete control of our fates, not least at sea.

39 years ago today occurred a tragedy that will be well remembered by many of our older readers and the cause was indeed that most dangerous of mixes, cruel seas and cruel winds.

The ship in question was modern, only two years into service and fitted with the latest of equipment for her time. She was owned and run by a well respected company and performed her daily tasks much the same way as the ferries that run every day nowadays do - regularly and almost taken for granted.

She was the WAHINE, a 484 foot passenger-car ferry built in 1966 by the respected Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering company at Govan on the River Clyde in Scotland. Billed as "The World's Finest Drive-On Overnight Passenger Vessel" she was the biggest in the fleet of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. Indeed, at the time of launch the biggest ro-ro ferry in the world.

A very modern ship of 8944 grt she was powered by turbo-electric engines, and had space for 200 cars as well as 931 passengers. She was fitted with stabilisers, bow rudder and stern doors. In appearance she was gracefully modern with a very high bow and her first sailing took place on August 1st 1966 from Wellington to Lyttleton after a delay in delivery due to problems at the shipyard.

She settled into her run (called the Steamer Express service) along with her fleetmate MAORI who had been built in 1953 by Vickers Armstrong on the Tyne, but she would not last even two years.

On Good Friday in 1968 New Zealand woke up to find cyclone Giselle wreaking havoc across the country. When WAHINE left Lyttleton none expected the storm to cause them any problems as it was deemed too far away and the seas at that time where she was plying seemed calm enough. It was not normal that such storms reached the south of the North Island in any case.

However as the ship approached Wellington on the 10th April in the early hours, she found herself engulfed in a storm with 100 kph winds that gusted to 155 kph. This was one of those rare storms that strayed south, with warm tropical air meeting a cold southerly, resulting in exceptional conditions.

As she tried to make her way towards harbour at around 6:10am the winds tore at the vessel and she lost her radar. Next a gigantic wave threw her off course and threatened to throw her onto Barrett Reef. The captain tried to keep her away by turning her into the seas again but to no avail. After thirty minutes of struggle the ship was thrown onto the rocks.

Passengers were told to put on lifejackets and make their way to assembly points. She was grounded, but worse was to come. Throughout the morning the winds and seas prevented any rescue efforts, and she dragged her anchors through an increasingly worsening storm. At 11am a harbour tug did manage to reach her and line was was made to tow her, but this came apart. Other attempts to secure a line failed.

Around 1.15pm the tides and winds turned the ferry round and she took on an even more alarming list. However, her position now afforded a patch of calm water as she acted as buffer to the winds and it was decided it was now or never to lower the boats. Only a few could be used. Crew tried to pack as many of the terrified passengers into them as possible. One of the lifeboats was swamped, plunging its unfortunate occupants into the sea. By now rescue boats were out and although many were saved, many were not.

An hour later as the first drenched survivors reached shore, the ship rolled right onto her side.

Later an inquiry said that the loss of life would have been greater if the captain had given the order to abandon ship at any other time save the time he did. Criticism was made of his not reporting that water had entered the car deck, but it was accepted the vessel was the victim of a ferocious storm and that little else could have been done. Captain Robertson was cleared of any blame and it should also be noted that he left the vessel last, as is tradition. He, along with the first officer and the pilot who had somehow managed with great difficulty to board the vessel, after ensuring all had left the ship, leapt into the waters off the foundering vessel.

All in all 51 people died, from drowning, injuries, exposure or by being dashed onto rocks. Many of them the elderly and infirm. It was one of the worst maritime losses experienced in New Zealand, and one that was witnessed by thousands around the world as TV cameras were rushed to cover the awful, harrowing scenes.

The WAHINE remained there, on her side until she was pounded to pieces. The last piece of her, her bow, was removed in 1973.

A terrible day for New Zealand and for passenger shipping, it serves as a reminder, even today, nearly forty years on, that the sea is still something to be treated with awe and respect and that we should never take for granted the ships we sail on, the sailors and officers who sail them or the seas themselves.