1.
GV AERIAL VIEW Sinking ship listing heavily
0.08

2.
CU Pilot
0.13

3.
AERIAL Ship sinking (2 shots)
0.34

4.
GV PAN Warship standing by TO sinking ship
0.50

5.
AERIALS Ship sinking by the stern (2 shots)
1.01

6.
GV Bows of ship up in water
1.07

7.
CU Pilot
1.10

8.
GV Ship going under
1.26

9.
GTV Debris in water
1.31



Initials BB/1700 TH/MC/BB/1715


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The last hours of a Taiwanese freighter, loaded with a cargo that included missile systems, produced dramatic film off the East Coast of New Zealand this week.

Despite a last ditch salvage attempt, the 10,000 ton Union East finally succumbed to heavy seas and sank. She had been abandoned by her crew last weekend after developing a fifty-degree list to starboard during a storm.

The Northland Harbour Board tug Raumanga managed to get a line aboard. But the freighter began to take water increasingly, and the battle to salvage her was finally lost.

Ship and cargo were reportedly worth about two and a half million pounds. Freight included air missile support systems for the Australian Ikara rocket, on their way from Australia to Brazil.