Dredge Peraki Due Early In February

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 7

Dredge Peraki Due Early In February

All damage done when the Lyttelton Harbour Board's new dredge, Peraki, sank at its fitting out wharf at Renfrew, Scotland, on June 14. had been completely rectified, without demur, by the contractors, the board's engineer-in-chief (Mr J. A. Cashin) said in an interview with “The Press" yesterday. No weaknesses in the ship or its equipment hand been left, said Mr Cashin. The Peraki was a “bonny” ship. Her pilots on

trials on the Clyde reported that the Peraki was well behaved and handled well when steaming. The trials were carried out with the Peraki’s boilers oil fired. Her later tests, which were unsatisfactory, were coal burning. The smoke nuisance was pronounced and the Harbour Board refused 40 accept the equipment.

When the sinking of the Peraki at her berth was reported, the harbour board sent Mr Cashin to Scotland to ensure that the vessel was ship-shape in every respect. ’*What was the cause of the sinking?” Mr Cashin was asked yesterday.

The Peraki had just completed trials and a valve had been giving a little trouble, he replied. The cover was taken off the valve after the Peraki returned to the fitting-out wharf. While the cover was off, tests were being made on the main pumps, and. by an unfortunate oversight, somebody pumped water into the hopper. The water flowed out through the open cover and filled the boiler-room, putting the fires out. ‘The fireman on duty acted very promptly, but nothing could be done.” said Mr Cashin. “The <hip sank by the head to the bottom, and. as the boiler fires had been put out. there was no steam to operate the pumps.” Coal-burning Problems

Questioned on the unsatisfactory trials with the coal-burning equipment. Mr Cashin said the board knew before he left for Scotland that the equipment had been giving trouble, but it was thought that the trouble would soon be cleared up.

‘Tn fact, it continued.” said Mr Cashin. ‘‘but we feel sure that a satisfactory solution will be reached. It was already decided by the board, on my recommendation, that the Perakishould come out to . Lyttelton oilfired. and run for two years here on oil before a change to coal burning was considered.’’ The board announced after its November meeting that the Peraki would sail for Lyttelton at the end of the month, “subject to certain financial arrangements.” The Peraki was due to sail on November 30 on her delivery trip and was expected to arrive at Lyttelton early in February, said Mr Cashin.

“Although the issue of the coalburning equipment was most unfortunate. there was no unpleasantness at any stage with the builders.” said Mr Cashin. “The firm of Lobnitz is one of the highest probity and is very jealous of its reputation. It will certainly do all in its power to give the board every satisfaction.”