SHIPS TO SERVE NEW MARKETS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 13

SHIPS TO SERVE NEW MARKETS

Four Ordered For New Zealand

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, May 5. Four "rather small” refrigerated cargo ships, each of about 7500 tons, have been ordered by four shipping lines serving New Zealand to encourage the Dominion in its search for wider markets. It is expected the ships will be ready for service in about 14 months. It is understood that the lines have in mind, for instance, the carriage of meat to the northwest coast of Amercia. The reason they decided on “rather smaller” ships than those employed regularly on the New Zealand-United Kingdom run is that cargoes to the "new” markets probably will not be as large as those to Britain and the Continent.

The lines do not intend to use these ships rigidly for additional markets, although that will be their main purpose. A statement by the lines today said: “After recent developments in the areas they serve, the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Shaw- Savill and Albion Company, the Port Line and the Blue Star Line are planning to provide four vessels rather smaller than the type at present regularly employed. “These vessels are to be about 7500 tons deadweight, 420 feet between perpendiculars and 60 feet beam. Their general service speed will be 17 knots. Cargo Space “Each will have some 320,000 cubic feet of space for refrigerated cargo and 40,000 cubic feet for wool and general cargo. “Orders have already been placed with Bartram and Sons, Ltd., of Sunderland, for one vessel each for the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Blue Star to be ready between August and December, 1960, and with Bremer Vulkan for another for Shaw Savill to be ready about the same time. “The fourth vessel which will be, in fact, the first to be available will be provided by the Port Line, who are converting their modern Port Montreal.”