Fast scrape down

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 3

Fast scrape down

> Timaru reporter Underwater specialists, using pneumatic rotary brushes, have until tomorrow afternoon to remove marine growth from the bottom of the 36,302t0nne cruise ship Australis. Her master, Captain Ardavanis, said that the ship, the biggest passenger vessel under the Greek flag, would load 4000 long tons of fuel oil tomorrow and leave port on Sunday for New York. The Australis, which has been sold by the

Chandris Shipping Line, would run again as a cruise ship out of New York. “She will not fly the Greek flag,” said the captain. The Australis would take 14 days to reach Panama, and another five days to reach her destination. When she leaves Timaru she will have a crew of 95 officers and men. The size of the task for Diver Services, Ltd, of Auckland, can be gauged by the fact that the ship is 225 m long is 8.23 m below the water line at

the bow and 10m at the stern. The total area to be cleaned is roughly 24,400 sq. ft. The clivers, Messrs S. Brown, R. Campbell, and M. Woods, are working daylight hours. They were in the water for only two hours after arriving at Timaru at midday on Tuesday. Their examination of the ship showed that she is not badly fouled. “There is a covering of thick weed in places, but as yet we have , not come across any barnacles,” said Mr Brown.