Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 23 February 1932, page 9


MOTORSHIP NIMBIN

Ashore at Ballina.

In a heavy fog yesterday morning the motorship Nimbin, owned by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, Ltd, went ashore about three miles south of Ballina Heads The Nimbin grounded about 6 am. The sea was calm at the time, with the fog driving from the north. She was still fast on the sand last night

Captain Lyttle, the pilot at Ballina, on learning of the plight of the Nimbin, Immedi-ately left port in a motor launch to view the vessel's position The dredge Tethys com-manded by Captain Munro, was oidered to the scene about 7 30 am, and stood by the stianded vessel A heavy cable was passed on boaid and an attempt was made to tow her otf, but a fall in the tide had left the Nimbin more firmly wedged on the sand The attempt was abandoned for the time, and it was decided to await the high tide and the arrival of stronger salvage gear

The di edge returned to port to tpke on more coal and to take in the cables and anchors which are available at Ballina for salvage purposes She retuined to the Nimbin in the afternoon, but her efforts met with no success

The North Coast Company has ordered their Gteamer Ulmana, which Is close by, to proceed to the Nimbin, and it is hoped that she will lie able to effect a salvage on the flood tide this morning The Ulmana it is thought, should be powerful enough to tow the Nimbin off the sand if the Nimbln's position does not become worse during the night Last night the sea was still calm and the Nimbin was in no danger of being driven farther towards the shore

Last night the company's steamer Arakoon left Sydney with Captain I) W Gibson, of the Sydney Marine Underwriters' and Salvage Association on boaid The latest salvage geai Is being taken to Ballina by Captain Gibson on the Aiakoon The company hopes however that the Nimbin will be refloated before the Aiakoon reaches the scene on Wednesday

The Nimbin was built specially for the North Coast Company in Copenhagen in 1927 She Is of 1052 tons gro-s and since her airival in Au'-tiallan waters has been engaged in the trade between Sydney and the Richmond River