NEW DANISH VESSEL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 14

NEW DANISH VESSEL

One of the most interesting merchant vessels to visit Lyttelton is the new Danish motor-ship. Kirsten Skou, which is discharging 1200 tons of West European cargo. She is named after the owner’s 25-year-old daughter whose photograph in colour is prominently displayed above the main staircase. Miss Kirsten Skou, who is employed in the Copenhagen offices of the Ove Skou Line, is a remark- | ably attractive brunette. , Although this is the Kirsten Skou’s first visit to New Zealand, other ships of the company have previously called at Lyttelton. One, the Lotte Skou, has been a familiar visitor. According to Captain E. Bantz, of Korsoer, the Ove Skou Line has 15 ships in service; another was launched a few days ago and two more are under construction. An open shelter deck type of vessel, the Kirsten Skou was built in the Natskov Shipyard, owned by the Danish East Asiatic Company. She is white-hulled with a blue riband and a rakish, blue funnel on which is superimposed the white letter “S.” Three bipod masts and a tall midship structure dominate her outline. She has a prominent sheer and no harsh lines, and just more than a year old. The Kirsten Skou is 427 ft with a beam of 56ft 6in and a summer draft of 24ft. Her gross tonnage is 4259 tons and she has a dead-weight capacity of 7000 tons. She has five hatches, deep tanks for edible oils, and a 25-ton heavy lift derrick fore and aft as well as her other cargo gear- Her auxiliary gear includes electric winches and her main engine is a Burmeister and Wain 7400 h.p. diesel. The compact design of this trim vessel which, according to her master, handles like a yacht, is remarkable in itself. In addition to her console navigation bridge fitted with every modern appliance, including radar, gyro radiotelephone and allied features, she also has space for luxurious passenger accommodation amidships. Passengers are housed in six single, and three double-berth cabins, all with private bathrooms. Accommodation for officers and crew is modern and spa-

cious. Public rooms are lined with mahogany, beech and panelling. A suite for the owner is provided. The ship is air conditioned and even the deck boy has- a single berth cabin. Cargo is her business, and in her short existence she has already visited Peru, the Great Lakes and Pakistan. Calls have been made at

Auckland and Wellington. Today the Kirsten Skou is expected to sail for Timaru, and she will complete discharge at Dunedin and Bluff. After this she will go to Australia to load for Canada. The Kirsten Skou has a crew of 37, predominantly Danish, including one stewardess. There are no passengers aboard at present.