A FROZEN CARGO OF MOLASSES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 89, 21 May 1914, Page 9

A FROZEN CARGO OF MOLASSES.

A peculiar result of cold weather in de-Jaying a steamer was that which occurred at Boston last month, when the big tank steamer Ixia lost her charter because of inability to discharge her cargo. It used to be the* custom to load molasses in the -port of Cuba., or Bavbadoes or wherever it was made by running it iu a hose into the hold of the vessel, and filling tiers of puncheons or casks which, were first placed ready to receive it. The casks were then kept as nearly, full as might be until they reached, their destination, and were unloaded, with a tackle like barrels or any other similar articles. Under this method of transportation it made no difference whether the weather was cold or not. The cargo was discharged, and the debris or overflow from the casks scraped out of the bottom of the hold. The Ixia, however, is a "modern tank steamer, which carries liquid cargoes in bulk, and discharges them by her own pumps. AVheu a severe frost occurred at her port of destination, the molasses refused to be [lumped,'the pipes were clogged, and it required two weeks instead of two days to get the stuff out of her, so that in the meantime those who had chartered her for another voyage in a different trade were unable to wait, and a considerable loss to the Ixia's owners was the consequence.