NEW MOTOR VESSEL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10348, 8 April 1930, Page 3

NEW MOTOR VESSEL

Waka’s Maiden Trip to Tauranga. A SUBSTANTIAL BOAT. The Northern Steamship Company’s new motor vessel Waka was inspected at Tauranga yesterday by many people. The Waka was built at Auckland by Mr George Niccol. Her carrying capacity is three hundred tons and her draught when loaded is six feet. Her overall length is 116 ft and beam 28ft. Her complement is eleven hands, comprising Captain A. Pert (master), Messrs J. V. Ruthe (mate), C. P. Berridge (chief engineer), E. Carr (second engineer), W. Evans (steward), four able seamen and two ordinary seamen.

The vessel is fitted with two Diesel engines, each 152 h.p., made by the English firm of Messrs Gardner and Co., and on the trials on Friday gave an average speed of over ten knots, x'he crude oil consumption of the two engines Is about thirteen gallons per hour. Two large oil tanks hold 3600 gallons, and these are connected with two daily service tanks, one on either side of the engine room. There are also two small kerosene tanks, kerosene being used “primarily as an engine cleanser. The engines are started by compressed air at a pressure of 3601 b. They are directly reversible, and are very serviceable units. The lubrication is on the forced principle. The oil after being led by pipes to the various parts is conveyed to a sump, thence to a filter, and is ready for use again immediately. From the engine rooms two exhaust pipes convey thU fumes into the steel mainmast and discharge them at a height of forty feet. The after winch also exhausts into the mainmast. The two winch engines were made by Messrs Bolinders, Ltd., of Stockholm. They are of the semi-Diesel type, using crude oil, and have a lifting power of fifteen tons. The exhaust of the forward winch is connected with the steel foremast, which also discharges at a height of forty feet. Both masts are of steel, and the foremast weighs four and a-half tons.

A Westinghouse electric plant, located in the engine room, lights the vessel throughout. It is small and compact and is simplicity itself. The hold is very spacious and is so constructed as to permit of two gangs working simultaneously. The quarters for the captain, mate, engineers and steward are situated in the after portion of the vessel and are roomy and very comfortable. The seamen have very snug quarters forward.

The Waka is an ideal cargo vessel and is so equipped as to permit of economical running. She is to be used in the Auckland-Tauranga service and is a substantial craft and a credit to her builders.