With the engines on stand-by,orders were given to cut the remaining forward lines at 0755 hours,the starboard engine was put on“slow astern”and the helm to“hard a starboard”.When the forward lines were cut,the bow was blown off and swung away from the quay under the influence of the wind and,combined with the effect of the engine going astern on the after spring,canted the bow to port,until a heading of North was reached with the vessel's stern approximately 15 meters off the dock face.
The engines were put to half astern at 0810 hours and with the bow continuing to swing to port,the after back-spring parted with the stern about 20 meters clear of the wharf.Orders were given to cut the remaining 5 stern lines.This was accomplished by 0818 hours,at which time the end of the pier was abeam of the bridge and the vessel was heading in a NW-ly direction.Both engines were placed to full astern with the shaft turning 80-90 revolutions.As the UNISOL was unable to gain sternway and with high seas at the end of the breakwater,the Pilot feared that the vessel's starboard quarter was in danger of striking the breakwater.
Hence the engines were stopped at 0827 hours,and orders were given to“let go port anchor to 2 shackles in the water”,but about 4 shackles ran out before the brake could be fully applieD、At 0828 hours,orders were given to shorten up on the anchor cable,the telegraph put on full ahead and the helm to hard to port. When the engines responded at 0829 hours,the anchor chain was seen to be stretched out on the port beam with a great deal of weight on it and the ship's head was 220° gyro with the vessel swinging to port.
The anchor was hove short to 2 shackles in the water by 0835 hours,and the vessel continued to drift westwards with 80-90(full ahead)revolutions on the engine.At this stage,orders were given to pay out the cable,which was paid out to 5 shackles in the water by 0838 hours,but that too failed to arrest the westward drift of the vessel.
At 1800,the hydraulic steering system failed once again.The master realized he would require shore assistance to rectify the problem,and diverted towards Portland using the thruster to steer by.The weather at this time was south-south-west force 5.At abou
At 2155,with the weather deteriorating and no steering,the master contacted the Portland Coastguard and a“Pan pan”message was broadcast.A tow to Portland Harbor was arranged and she arrived alongside at 0240 the following morning.The subsequent investigat