SHIPPING ROUTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 258, 31 October 1931, Page 10

SHIPPING ROUTES.

RETURN TO OLD TRAILS.

"THE HORN" AND "THE CAPE"

TIMES AND COSTS COMPARED.

When the * Port Alma sailed from Auckland for London yesterday, another big freighter started off on the old route that ! was ' universally followed in the days. of. sail, and by steamers , prior to 1915. Under existing conditions many other vessels, dependent, upon either oil or coal, aire -likely to return to .the old oceantrail.. Inquiries regarding the reasons .'elicit, some, interesting facts. The distortion of the average map showing trade-routes gives, a false impression of the disparity of distances between the Panama and Horn routes. Experienced navigators, /following the "o-reat circle" track that takes them 'well to the southward almost immediately after leaving our shores, declare that the Cape Horn route is 900odd miles longer than the Panama Canal one. ■ For the. modern, freighter this is but three extra days under equal weather conditions, but on the Horn route following winds may well be relied on, and. through the Pacific tropics vessels _ sailing eastward to the western continent must face the regular .trades;: So mariners feel that on the average the old route will mean only an extra, two days;

- Against the extra all-in cost: of the slightly longer voyage there must be set substantial savings. The dues for one of our modern cargo' steamers passing through Panama total about £2300 for a single -passage. That sum was the English equivalent of the dollars paid before the depreciation of the pound. What the charges will be to-day can be approximated; the increase is considerable. So it will be in oil; fuel at Balboa, where, some months ago, this evergrowing source of power was 37/ a ton — cheaper than good bunker coal is in Auckland. Canal dues .and adverse ex-

change rates would probably absorb £3000 of a vessel's earnings on one Homeward voyage. With the change-over to • the Horn ■ route almost - all of this will be avoided, and in these days, with so ? many - eteamers coming outward in bal- :■ last,every possible economy ■is 'neces- !• Bary :to make ends f meet; • ' '" ;