Modern Freighter To Discharge Railway Sleepers At Lyttelton

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 11

Modern Freighter To Discharge Railway Sleepers At Lyttelton

The ships of Andrew Weir, more commonly known as the Bank Line, are well known in the ports of the world and a recent addition to this large merchant fleet, the 8519-ton, singlescrew motor-ship Streambank, is at Lyttelton discharging a cargo of hardwood railway sleepers from Bunbury. , The Streambank, built in Sunderland two years ago, is commanded by Captain, J. Kemp, and is making her first visit to Lyttelton.

Bank Line vessels, by nature of their roving trade, are utilitarian craft, but the Streambank yields nothing to similar vessels, in appearance or design. A flared bow, tall bridge structure with curved apron plating on each side, an elliptical funnel, and unusually long, oval ventilator cowlings, are some of the features which tend to soften her lines. The 14-knot vessel carries a crew of 58, which includes European officers, engineers and apprentices, and a Chinese carpenter. The rest of the crew are from India and Pakistan. The Streambank could be classed as a luxury freighter, and

her cabin accommodation, saloon, smokeroom and passage ways are tastefully lined with panelling of assorted timbers. She is provided with the latest navigational apparatus, including radar and gyro, and her cargo handling gear, combined with modern roller steel hatch lids, gives the vessel quick facilities, for loading and discharge. Two large, hand-propelled lifeboats are carried, one on either side of the spacious boat deck, and either boat can accommodate the whole crew at one time. Before she loaded at Bunbury, the Streambank discharged a cargo of. Mexican Gulf sulphur at New South Wales ports. The Streambank has more than 3000 tons of sleepers to discharge at Lyttelton. It is not expected that the Streambank will sail from Lyttelton before next week.