Gales hurled motor ship into North Pier

High seas and gale force winds threw the new 16,800 ton cargo motor ship Iason against the North Pier at Sunderland North as she was entering the port after completing her acceptance trials.

A 15-foot vertical gash was ripped in the hull of the Iason, which was to have been handed over by the Pallion yard of the Doxford and Sunderland Shipbuilding and Engineering Company to Cargaisones Oceanicas SA early next week.

As she edged between the piers to meet waiting tugs the ship fell in a trough, lost steerage way and was blown against the pier by the southeasterly gale. She rolled in the heavy seas and struck the pier a second time before she could get clear.

Plates in the starboard side, near the engine room, were damaged in the collision, above the water line, and the Iason was able to make her way to the quay at the repair yard of TW Greenwell and Co.

A preliminary estate of the damage was carried out and it is expected that the ship will not be at Greenwell’s undergoing repair for about three or four weeks.

Nobody was injured during the mishap.