BUILT IN 1932

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25088, 21 January 1947, Page 8

BUILT IN 1932

HOSPITAL SHIP IN WAR FIRST VOYAGE SINCE RECONVERSION The Wanganella is a twin-screw motor-vessel, of 9576 gross tons. She was built in 1932 for the traris-Tasman service of Huddart, Parker, Ltd., in which she replaced the Ulimaroa. Dimensions of the ship are: length. 461 feet; breadth, 64 feet; depth, 29 feet. The engine has 16 29A-inch cylinders, and develops 1305 horsepower. Purchased by the present owners from the builders, Harland and Wolff. Ltd., Belfast, the Wanganella is elaborately fitted and furnished. On her way to New Zealand from Ireland, in 1932, the Wanganella made the trip from Belfast to Sydney in 31 days, a record time. She arrived at Sydney on January 2. 1933. Averaging 16 knots for the voyage, the vessel was not pressed, as the engines were not considered to have been run in.

A few days after her arrival in Wellington. the Wanganella made a fourday excursion to ’lilford Sound. The passengers, mostly Australians, spent a day ashore at the sound before the ship returned to Wellington. The Wanganella was taken off the trans-Tasman run during the war and converted into a hospital ship. Her first trip after her reconversion was to Vancouver from Sydney last year, and back. The voyage during which she stranded on Barrett’s reef was her firsl since the war on the trans-Tasmar run.