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M/T Kollskegg - Page 2 Misc. Reports re Salvage
Please go to Page 1 for details on bombing attack. Kollskegg was beached by the Rescue Tugs Resolve and Stalwart. Resolve extinguished the fire on board, and she then floated off, later drifting ashore again near St. Catherine's Point. Following unsuccessful attempts to refloat her by Portsmouth Dockyard, Admiralty Salvage Dept. was requested to attend, and with the assistance of air compressors and tugs she was successfully refloated. Salvage operations had commenced on July 26 under Lt. Cdr. Polland with the tugs Miss Elaine, Aid (both on hire from Risdon Beazley), Stalwart and Hector. Kollskegg was towed off and anchored in Cowes Road, later towed by Hector, Neptune and Calshot to Southampton where she was drydocked. Handed over to owners in August. The reports that follow are addressed to "The Tug Superintendent, Canute Road, Southampton". Hector's report (from St. Catherine's to S.W. Ryde Middle Buoy) I beg to report that on the 30th inst., on receipt of orders from Capt. Cavendish, I left Southampton at 10:15 a.m. for Kollskegg ashore in position at St. Catherine's Point as given by Naval Control Office. Arriving at position at 2:30 p.m. found Kollskegg stern on the shore, well down by the bow with starboard anchor out and a port quarter wire run out. Tug Stalwart, Miss Elaine and Aid were in attendance. After consultation with Salvage Officer on board Stalwart it was decided that we would put our towrope on board at 3 p.m. This being effected (45 fathoms 16 inch towrope and 60 fathoms 4 3/4 inch wire) we towed easy until 4 p.m and then full speed until 6 p.m when we received the order Cease Towing. Stalwart let go and at 6:15 p.m. I let go my towing gear leaving at 6:30 p.m. for St. Helens Roads anchoring at 9 p.m. At 4:30 a.m. on the 31st hove up anchor and in company with Stalwart proceeded to Kollskegg arriving at 7:30 a.m. Received order from Salvage Officer to wait until Stalwart had made fast his towrope on ship's stern. This being effected the crew came forward to make Hector's towrope fast, but while doing this Stalwart pulled Kollskegg off stern first. I immediately let go my rope from forward and put it up again on vessel's starboard quarter and at 8 a.m. with Stalwart towed vessel stern first (her draught aft being 7 feet and forward 34 feet). Picked up pilot from Cutter at Examination Area and continued towing till arriving at Cowes Roads, we turned vessel round and anchored her to the Northwest of S.W. Ryde Middle Buoy. I immediately went on board re further services and the Salvage Officer said he might require my pumps, but would let Mr. Etheridge know, his being the only telephone number I could give with certainty. Left the Kollskegg and arrived at Southamtpon 5 p.m. During the service Hector consumed 20 tons of coal and 8000 gallons of water. I lost 40 fathoms of 3 1/2 inch manilla rope messenger during the service. Crew list: Note that C. Cutler and H. Babbidge are listed in the crew list for Neptune below. Hector's report (pumping services & towing to No. 40 Berth) At 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, 31st July, in response to your order I at once left the Ocean Dock and proceeded to the tanker Kollskegg anchored at the South Brambles, arriving there at 7:30 p.m. Was instructed by Salvage Officer to rig a pump line in preparation for flooding the after tanks of vessel to bring her on an even keel. This was done and ready at 8:40 p.m., but it was 11:45 p.m. when it was decided to start pumping as, prior to this, the tank was not ready. From this time until 10 a.m. (August 1st 1940) the tug was pumping water into No. 9 tank and then moved to No. 8 tank and was flooding this until 2:45 p.m. until it was completely full. Three eight feet lengths of 6 inch suction hose collapsed and were unfit for further service after flooding No. 9 tank, on account of the height of the lift. In addition to this, three lengths of fire hose were led to the vessel's fuel bunker on the poop and two to the coffer-dam between her after tank end engine room, all for flooding purposes. The completion of this service increased the after draught of vessel from 7 feet 6 inches to 24 feet 6 inches. At 3 p.m. the tugs Calshot and Neptune arrived to assist in towing vessel to Southampton. As she had to be towed stern first, the tugs Hector and Neptune made fast alongside the starboard and port side respectively facing aft and Calshot did the towing. This operation had to be very carefully undertaken as the tendency to sheer about was constantly observed and had to be immediately checked, both rounding the Brambles and in the narrows nearing the Docks. Without any untoward incident, however, the Kollskegg was eventually berthed in safety at No. 40 Berth, Southampton Docks, 6:30 p.m. Coal consumed on this service 15 tons. Water (fresh) consumed on this service 2000 gallons. Crew list: Neptune's report (proceeding to Kollskegg - services not required) I beg to report that on the 31st July, on receipt of an order from you, I left the Docks at 2:15 p.m. and proceeded to the tanker Kollskegg to assist in towing the vessel to Southampton. I came up with the vessel at West Ryde Middle Buoy, being towed by tugs Stalwart and Hector, at 3:20 p.m. I steamed in close for orders, but at that moment the tugs rounded the vessel up and anchored her. I then went alongside Hector for orders and was told by Capt. Southwell that they had received orders to anchor the vessel until further orders and that we were to return to Southampton. This we did, leaving the Kollskegg at 3:50 p.m. and arrived back in Dock at 5 p.m. Crew list: Neptune's report (re towing to No. 40 Berth) At 2 p.m. on the above date, we left the Empress Dock for Cowes Roads having received orders to assist the tugs Calshot and Hector with the towing of the S.S. Kollskegg from Cowes Roads to Southampton Docks. After conveying orders to the Pilot Cutter off Hythe and also calling at Cowes for a Pilot and finding out from here that the Pilot had already boarded the Vessel, we proceeded to the Kollskegg and arrived alongside at 3:15 p.m. We then had to wait until 3:40 p.m. for the S.T. Aid to uncouple her steam hose and leave the ship and thus enable us to moor on to the vessel's port forward side, being then in a position to tow the vessel stern first. At 3:45 p.m. with the assistance of the before mentioned tugs, we started towing and eventually secured her at 40 Berth at 6:20 p.m. During this time we used 4 tons of coal and 3 tons of fresh water. Crew list:
The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Misc. reports received from Tony Cooper, England - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
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