MOTOR-SHIP IN PORT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21456, 24 April 1935, Page 19

MOTOR-SHIP IN PORT

$ NEW ZEALAND STAR ARRIVES LAVISHLY-EQUIPPED CARGO CARRIER Coming from London on her maiden voyage, the New Zealand Star, the second of three motor-ships recently built for the Blue Star Line, arrived in Lyltelton yesterday morning. With her sharply raked stem, cruiser stern, wide low funnel, and single mast, she looked impressive as she came up the harbour. She had an uneventful voyage out. The New Zealand Star was built at Belfast by Messrs Harland and Wolff and first attracted attention in Netw Zealand when she was launched by Lord Bledisloe, as Governor-General of New Zealand. Lord Bledisloe was in the Dominion and released the hull by radio impulse in Belfast by pressing a button. The vessel left London on March 21 and stopped only at Curacao, wherfc she took on 2200 tons of fuel oil, and at Panama. Her average speed was 15.56 knots. She could have done the trip in better time had it been necessary, since, in trials at Belfast she registered 18.5 knots. Xo Carry Meat Primarily intended for carrying chilled meat from New Zealand to lingland, the New Zealand Star has 529,230 cubic feet of space for cool storage. She has eight water-tight bulkheads, six cargo holds, all insulated, and facilities for dealing with cargo have been specially arranged with a view to rapid handling. The six hatches are served by 21 derricks, some capable of lifting seven tons and some 10 tons, while an extra heavy one lifts 50 tons. The winches are all electrically driven. The refrigeration installation consists of two electrically-driven duplex CO2 machines and the equipment is of the latest type. There is provision for carrying chilled meat in live spaces on the CO2 gas principle. Other Features The steering gear is electricallydriven and is controlled from the whcelhousc on the navigating bridge by electric telcmotor, while the vessel is propelled by twin 13. and W. single acting motors of 10 cylinders. The wheelnouse is fitted with all the most mgdorn equipment, including a sounding machine which records a contour of the bottom of the ocean, and the equipment in the kitcuen is all electric. The New Stealand Star has accommodation for lfi passengers in 10 rooms, which are all very comfortably furnished. Six of the rooms have double berths in them and have bathrooms attached, and two of the four single rooms also have bathrooms adjoining. The length of the ship is 535.5 feet, the beam mould is 70 feet and the depth is 43.5 feet. The gross tonnage is 10,740. The crew of G9 includes a doctor, 15 engineers, nine .stewards, four cooks, 19 deck hands, and 13 engine-room workers.

The passengers who came out in the New Zealand Star were Mrs H. Moore (Liverpool), Dr. and Mrs S. Wilson and child (Dunedin), and Mr W. D. Lysnar, of Gisborne. Dr. Wilson acted as ship's surgeon. Captain G, Wilson is in command and he has with him the following officers: First, Mr J, Wills; second, Mr R. S. .Hopper (a son of Captain G. Hopper, of the Avelona Star); third, Mr M. J. Tulloch; fourth, Mr A. Dare; chief engineer, Mr A. Nicol; second, Mr D. Macßae; chief refrigerating engineer, Mr W. Westall; junior second engineer, IvTr T. Venables; third engineer, Mr H. O'Kaue; wireless operator, Mr G. D. Dobson; chief steward, Mr G. Niblock.