STRAITHAIRD AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21330, 24 November 1934, Page 14

STRAITHAIRD AT AUCKLAND

BERTHING TAKES TWO HOURS ONE TUG INSUFFICIENT (PKUSS ASSOCIATION TELEOSASI.) AUCKLAND, November 23. The delicate task of berthing the Straithaird, the largest passenger vessel to visit Auckland, occupied two hours this afternoon, imposing on the passengers, who were anxious to make the fullest use of their restricted period in port, a vexatious delay, and evoking from some of them ironical cheers as the liner at last drew alongside the wharf. Expert opinion, was later expressed that the protracted berthing emphasised the necessity for at least two tugs being available to assist in the berthing of large vessels. The Auckland Harbour Board has only one tug. A contributing cause of the delay was that the Straithaird had inlurning propellers which, it was : fated, made it more difficult to inanoauvre the liner into position for berthing. There was never any question about the depth of water being sufficient. Three times the ship approached the wharf. Attempts to berth her stern first failed on each occasion Once it appeared likely that her stern would bump against the wharf, but she was checked in time <-nd swung past the end. Little difficulty was encountered when it was decided to berth the vessel in the ordinary way. She proceeded head in to the basin and dropped her port anchor. Then, with the aid of the tug and mooring lines run out from the starboard side to the wharf, the liner was slowly edged into the wharf, coming alongside without a tremor. I''our tugs are customarily used in Sydney for handling vessels of the otraithaird's size. The Straithaird, which is of 22,284 Lons, with 800 passengers, will leave to-morrow night for Wellington Lnd will leave Wellington on Monday night for Australia. Most of the passengers will visit Rotorua and other North Island tourist resorts, rejoining the vessel at Wellington.