AUSTRALIND AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 10

AUSTRALIND AT LYTTELTON

New Motor Ship On Maiden Voyage

Paying her first visit to Lyttelton, the new 6276-ton motor ship, Australind, is discharging 2000 tons of general cargo from Britain. Owned by the Australind Steam Shipping Company of London, she is a single screw vessel. She is commanded by Captain J. D. Blake, of London, who has spent his whole career in the company, which has two other vessels, the Araluen and the Ajana. A fourth vessel, the Ashburton, has been sold. The Australind is 477 feet with a beam of 62 feet and has a fair turn of speed. Designed for a service speed of 14} knots, she achieved a maximum of 18.2 knots on trials. On the passage from Britain to her first port, Wellington, a speed of over 16 knots was averaged. Excellent accommodation is provided for officers and crew and a notable feature of the smart black-hulled vessel with the high superstructure amidships, is the lavish amount of deck space provided both for working the ship and recreation. Petty officers have single berths, and all other ratings have two-berth cabins. All other appointments are of high standard. Cabins and public rooms are spacious and comfortable. Including the master, the Australind has a total crew of 46, and four of these are apprentices. Two apprentices belong to the engineering branch. A large portion of the Australind’s cargo is machinery. After going to Dunedin to continue discharging, toe wiH load in New Zealand ports for Dunkirk and other Continental ports, as well as British ports, and is expected to leave New Zealand about the middle of March.