BALLAST IN QUESTION.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 5 April, 1911.

THE YONGALA.

THOROUGH SEARCH PROCEEDING.

No further news concerning the steamer

Yongala was received by the authorities

of the Adelaide Steamship Company in

Adelaide on Tuesday morning. The search

for the vessel has been more complete.

Every nook and cranny along the coast,

practically from Cairns to Mackay, has

been explored, and the Barrier Reef, 

between the above-mentioned ports, 

has been searched by the large steamers 

Tarcoola and Ouraka. The latter is now 

searching the Barrier to its southern point 

of Sandy Cape.

THE BALLAST QUESTION.

Melbourne, April 1.

Some allegations have been made to the

Minister by the Merchant Service Guild

regarding the way in which the Yongala's

cargo was stowed. Some hundreds of tons

of pig iron, which formed the ballast of

the vessel, are stated to have been removed.

Brisbane, April 1.

In connection with a telegram from

Melbourne, stating that the Merchant 

Shipping Guild had requested an 

investigation into the allegation that 

a quantity of pig iron ballast had 

recently been taken out of the Yongala, 

Mr. Wareham, the Queensland 

manager of the Adelaide Steamship

Company, explained to-day that when

the Yongala was running between

Sydney and Western Australia very

little back cargo was offering,and 

150 tons of pig iron was put in the ship, 

but as the captain and engineer reported 

that the vessel was much better

without it it was taken out in June, 1907.

The Yongala had a prominent top hamper and funnel. We know from the case of the Waratah, similar profile, that such elevated weight above the main deck created an inherent top heaviness which had to be compensated by significant dead weight lowest down to improve GM stability. 

Waratah's solution was 1,500 tons of lead concentrates in the lower hold, and one might assume that the 150 tons of pig iron had a similar effect on the stability of the smaller Yongala. In fact if the Yongala had been appropriately designed she should have been able to transport minimal cargo and remain stable by ballast water, ALONE.

It was disingenuous of Mr. Wareham to quote that 'little back cargo was offering' between Sydney and Western Australia, given that Yongala, as late as December, 1910, periodically serviced this very route and should have required the continuation of 150 tons of pig iron as additional ballast if this argument were to hold.  

Like the Waratah, I believe that Yongala's (and Granala's) design raised the centre of gravity in the vessel and reduced GM stability. In other words, Yongala was a tender vessel which, unless adequately ballasted, would have had a tendency to roll heavily in severe weather conditions, with the potential for capsizing. 

The reference to 'the vessel was much better without it, it was taken out' suggests that comfort for first class passengers was a primary factor. Relative tenderness creates a long and gentle heeling pattern, more agreeable than the conversely shorter and jerky pattern. Safety is the big question and ensuring comfort above safety points to short-term thinking.

Inquiry:

"The weight of cargo in the vessel was 667 tons, almost entirely in the lower hold, and was properly stowed. There were 43 tons in the between decks, 40 of which were for Mackay; and 11 tons on deck, 10 of which were also for Mackay."

.... there were only 617 tons of cargo, well stowed, lowest down in the steamer. Yongala could transport in the region of 1800 tons of cargo and 617 tons is only 34% of this value. Although only 1 ton of cargo remained on deck, substantial decrease in cargo dead weight would have made the steamer more top heavy - tender.

After all she no longer carried an important 150 tons of ballasting pig iron in her forward holds.

There is a lot more on this subject to follow as more information is revealed in period newspaper reports.

MORE WRECKAGE.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 5 April, 1911

MORE WRECKAGE.

Brisbane. April,4.

A telegram was received from Lucinda

Point to-day stating that in addition to

the wreckage previously reported there is

a quantity of varnished panels washed 

ashore, also some 9 ft. teak gratings, 

metal numbered and painted red

underneath.- Mr. Wareham said the

Yongala's gratings were metal numbered,

but not so long.

Mr. Wareham to-night -received urgent 

telegram from Cairns relating to the search 

made by the steamer Tarcoola. The message, 

which was lodged at Cairns at 9 a.m. Monday, 

stated that the Tarcoola arrived at Cairns at 

noon on Sunday, after searching the Wheeler,

Keeper, Bowden, Broadhurst, and Loadstone 

reefs. The captain reports that when abreast 

of Broadhurst reef he recovered a case of 

apples and a bag of flour, both bearing the 

Cairns port mark, and when abreast of 

Wheeler reef he recovered a lifeboat cover 

and an air tank. The Tarcoola also picked up 

a bottle rack off the Keeper reef. She then

steamed north, searching the minor passage 

to Cairns, but found nothing further.

A Customs officer at Mackay, who was

formerly stationed at Bowen, says that

for a number of years warships on the

Australian station when in northern

waters have used Nares Rock as a target

for gun practice, and he thinks this might

account for the break discovered by the

masters of the Queensland and Ouraka.

Given the location of Nares Rock, it seems probable that Yongala could have struck this object and foundered as a direct result. But there again, wreckage and flotsam were primarily discovered from Townsville and to the northward; NOT southward towards Bowen and beyond.

WRECKAGE WASHING ASHORE.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Monday 10 April, 1911.

THE YONGALA.

MAIL BAGS WASHED ASHORE.

MORE WRECKAGE.

Brisbane, April 9.

The Deputy Postmaster-General has

received information from his officers at

Townsville and Ingham to the effect that

the Halifax police have been advised that

three bags of mails have been washed

ashore at Cassidy's Beach, 12 miles from

Cairns (Townsville). The postmaster at

Ingham has been instructed to obtain 

possession of the mailbags as soon as 

possible and furnish paiticulars concerning 

them. It is also reported that much wreckage 

has been observed at Ramsay's Bay, 

Hinchinbrook.

Ingham. April 9. 

Two heavy bags of mails, also some bags

of potatoes and onions, were picked up on

Cassidy's Beach. 12 miles from here, on

Friday by Mr. Taylor, of Victoria Creek.

Owing to the heavy seas and the flooded

creeks he was unable to convey the mails to

Halifax. Police were sent out to convey

them to Ingham.

Townsville, April 9.

The Government launch Seal returned

to-night, and reports that Mr. Staines,

clerk of Petty Sessions at Charters Towers,

who is on a holiday at Palm Islands, had

been cruising around, and had found a

cribbage board on which were written in 

pencil the words, "Smoke-room Yongala", 

the same words were also scratched on, 

presumably with a knife. He also found a

piece of pine, painted white, on which

were printed the words, "Passengers are 

requested to switch off lights when 

leaving cabin." Mr. Staines also picked 

up a piece of a mast from a small boat, 

marked "IV." The blacks found a case 

of apples, branded "A.L." over "T." 

in a circle, and a piece of pine with a 

hat-peg attached.

Inspector Malone has received a message

from Halifax, reporting the discovery of a

small mail-bag and a basket of mails on

Taylor's Beach. Constable Robinson

reports that tons of wreckage have 

come into Ramsay's Bay, Hinchinbrook 

island. The launch Pelican is not yet able 

to proceed to Nares Rock. 

Wreckage and flotsam washed up onshore along a swathe stretching from Townsville to Ramsay Bay, some 65 miles distant. The prevailing wind in this coastal area is southeasterly which suggests that the Yongala foundered at a position somewhere between Townsville and the Barrier Reef.

FURTHER FRUITLESS SEARCH.

The Mercury (Hobart) Thursday 30 March, 1911.

THE YONGALA.

_______________________

FURTHER FRUITLESS SEARCH,

ILL-FATED VESSEL'S CARGO.

BRISBANE. March 29.

A telegram has been received at

Townsville from Cape Bowling Green,

stating that the coast has been searched

by the steamer Magnet up to a distance

of five miles south, but nothing has

been discovered of the missing Yongala.

The Yongala's cargo was a very 

comprehensive one, including foodstuffs of

all kinds, timber, tobacco, a quantity

of iron, kerosene, and other such 

necessaries for the far north. The bulk

of the cargo was taken on at Brisbane,

but there were large quantities from

Sydney and Melbourne, where a good

deal had been transhipped from other

vessels. One of the principal commodities 

on board appears to have been flour.

Most of the cargo was bound to

Townsville and Cairns, but there were

also portions for Port Douglas, Innisfail, 

Johnstone River, and Lucinda Point.

REVISED PASSENGER LIST.

When the Yongala left Mackay on

Thursday last she had on board the

following first saloon passengers.

For Townsville.-

Mr., Mrs., and Miss Rooney, Miss 

Uhr, Miss Buxton, Mr. Stach, Mr. 

and Mrs. Elsdale, Mr. F. Voney, 

Miss P. Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. 

W. Lin, Miss M. Shannon.

For Cairns.

Miss Davids, Mrs and Miss Murray, 

three children, and maid.

Mr. and Mrs. Reath, Mr. W. J. Fulton, 

Mr. A. S. Dette, Mr. M. Parton,

Mr. S. Manwaring, Mrs. M. A. 

Woodward, and Nurse Magee.

The second saloon passengers for

Townsville were:-

Mr. and Mrs. Manhey, Mr. O. F. 

Thompson, Mr. Barclay, Mr. A. 

Carraroy, Mr. K. Tareeves, Mr.

F. Brickenrige, Mr. E. Schneider, Mr.

W. Coade, Mr. R. Coade, Mr.F.

Sutherland, and Mr. J. Sutherland.

The second saloon passengers for

Cairns were:-

Mr. D. J. Jolley, Mr. D. Davis,

Mr. A. Peauta , Mr. W. Griffiths, 

and Mr. E. E. Pankhurst.

A lady named Miss Gaffney had 

booked a first saloon passage for 

Innisfail some time in advance of 

the sailing of the vessel, but it is 

not known whether she was 

actually on board.

THE TARCOOLA'S SEARCH.

NO TRACE UP NORTH.

A telegram from the captain of the

Tarcoola says that his vessel made 

another fruitless search- for the missing

Yongala, going as far north as Bowen.

A thorough search was made round 

Barrier Reef. but no trace of the steamer

or wreckage was found. The Tarcoola

left Bowen to search as far as Cairns.

Amongst the passengers of the ill-fated

vessel was John Campbell, of 

Townsville, horse trainer.

MELBOURNE PASSENGERS

ABOARD.

Two of the passengers on the ill-fated

Yongala embarked at Melbourne. They

were Messrs. Richard and Walter

Coade, second-class passengers, who re-

side at Yering, and who were travelling

to Townsville.

FURTHER CONJECTURES.

SYDNEY, March 29.

Captain McKenzie , of the s.s. 

Innamincka, expressed the opinion 

to-day that the Yongala met her 

doom on Broadhurst Reef, but 

Captain Sims, of the Grantala, 

thinks she struck the Keeper Reef. 

Both are of opinion that the Yongala 

overran her distances in the blackness 

of the storm, and was wrecked on a reef 

in Flinders Passage.

SEARCH TO BE CONTINUED.

Mr. Black, manager of the Sydney

office of the Adelaide Shipping 

Company, in referring to the loss of the

Yongala to-day, said:-"Our masters

and others who know the Yongala,and

had travelled in her, scout the idea

of the vessel having foundered. What

has happened, I think, is that she

either struck a rock or has been blown

out of her course on to a reef. If the

passengers had got ashore anywhere,

we would have heard from them before

now. There seems little hope: but the

search will be continued until every

vestige of hope has faded." The 

Wollowra will take up the running from

Sydney to Melbourne on April 7, and

then will go north in the Yongala's

ordinary run.

VESSEL INSURED FOR £90,000.

ADELAIDE, March 29.

The S.S. Yongala was insured for

£90,000. One fourth of this risk was

undertaken by the Adelaide Steamship

Company, which to that extent insures

its own vessels. The remaining three

fourths is divided between the Union

Insurance Company of Canton and

South British Insurance Company.

It appears that the Adelaide Steamship Company had to pay £22 500, which if one considers the profit for 1911, £38 402, this represented 56%. This loss must have had a significant impact on the finances of the company.

It is interesting that the Koombana, almost the same dimensions and specifications and 5 years newer, was insured for only £ 75 000, one year on. This strongly suggests that Koombana was under-insured possibly due to the fact that the company was experiencing some financial strain.

Captains Sim and McKenzie expressed the opinion that Yongala must have struck a reef rather than succumbing to the cyclone. This opinion reinforces a belief among those who knew the steamer that she was fundamentally seaworthy and did not fail in stormy conditions. However, a 'thorough search' had been made of the Barrier Reef with no signs of wreckage. There was more to circumstances surrounding the loss of the Yongala than met the eye.