This article is based on a Commission of Enquiry of the Marine Board on the stranding of the ship Amra on Vuna Reef, Taveuni. Details of that enquiry appeared in The Fiji Times of July 1, 1915.
John Walsh Queen was in charge of the ship Amra on June 24.
The ship sailed from Levuka on the June 23 at 3pm as the wind blew moderately towards the northeasterly direction. The Amra sailed to Taveuni, headed for Tarte’s estate in the district of Vuna.
Captain Queen was on deck when the ship left Levuka and took the watch at 8pm until midnight.
He was still on duty when the ship struck the reef.
All went well until four minutes past midnight.
The Amra was steering E.N.E (East North East) towards the light shinning from Mr Tarte’s house.
There were lights on the coolie lines and on the beach along Namoli Village, which he picked up and mistook for Tarte’s lights.
He ported two points and steered for them. At 12.03 am he rang up “stand-by”, and speed was reduced. At 11.45 pm his speed was eight knots and at 12.04 am the Amra struck.
She ran full stern and two minutes later, she stopped.
There was no water in the hold.
They ran out two bar anchors and dropped them amidships.
Soundings were made when the ship struck.
There were six-feet of water from forward to midship, and 18 to 24 feet right aft.
There was no movement in the vessel after that; she lay quite still on the reef.
At about 1.30 am they heaved on three anchors and went full stern on the engines but were unable to move the vessel.
They commenced to discharge the cargo from the forward hold into the boats, and jettisoned the bunker coal.
An attempt was made again on the following evening to heave on anchors, but still there was no movement of the vessel.
On Friday morning at about 1.30 am, they heaved on anchors again, using the engine, but without result. They continue to discharge the cargo and jettisoned the coal.
On Friday evening the Ranadi arrived with a hawser and tried towing Amra for about 15 minutes, but failed to move the ship.
She eventually got so close to the reef that she had to cut the hawser. The Ranadi then left the Amra, to return the next day.
On the following morning, they took the port anchor, with 14 to 15 fathoms of chain and 50 fathoms of wire attached and ran that out aft in about 30 fathoms of water.
They commenced heaving on anchors, with engines still astern, and the vessel came off the reef and slipped both anchors.
At six in the morning they went to anchorage at Tarte’s place.
On Friday at 6am there were two feet of water in the well.
The hold was dry forward. They started the pumps and at 8 o’clock there were six inches of water in the hold and well.
