EMPTY BUNKERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 191, 7 May 1908, Page 8

EMPTY BUNKERS.

4 THE MIMIRO'S PLIGHT. KEROSENE CARGO BROACHED. Tho " Sydney Morning' Herald " of April 27 gives the following account of tho stirring and seriouS adventure which befell tho well-known New Zealand trader Mimiro during her voyage from New York to Melbourne. It was intended that the vessel should accomplish tho whole trip (12,500 miles) without stopping at any intermediate port, and the quantity of coal which it was estimated would suffice for tho long voyage was stowed in the bunkers before she left tho Aniorican port, 56 days ago. When she was approaching the Australian coast, however, her supplies of fuel had run so low thai Captain liemp decided to put into Albany to replenish bunkers rather than run any risk of being stuck up for want of fuel in midocean. The steamer was accordingly headed for Albany, where she duly arrived without misadventure. Calculating that with what already remained in tho bunkers an extra 205 tons of coal would suffice to enable the vessel to reach Melbourne, Captain'Kemp, after consultation with his engineers, had that quantity taken on board. The Mimiro then resumed her passage on April 16, and would, it was hoped, arrive at Melbourne on Monday last. When she was but three days out from the Western Australian port her coal supply, however, ran out, owing, it is said,- to tho inferior nature of tho fuel got at Albany. To quote one of the engineers: "The coal burnt was practically useless for steaming purposss, and was carried up the funnel as. if it had bsen shavings." With somo hundreds of miles still to cover the vessel was left almost without.a "shot in her locker," and the situation was naturally viewed with considerable concern. Tho only expedient that remained to meet the difficulty was to use whatever wooden or other suitable' fittings were available for fuel, and this was promptly adopted. A heavy boom, as large as an ordinary tree, was cut up and cast into tho hungry fur-, naces, together with other .materials, but as the lires greedily consumed these almost as soon as they were thrown in it was evident that some other means would have to be used to keep up tho supply of steam. After consultation with the engineers Captain Kemp determined to use kerosene, of which the vessel carried a large consignment as cargo as an auxiliary fuel'to fittings. , This idea wa3 acted .upon, 700 cases.'or double that number of tins of liquid fuel being consumed. The oil .was sprayed over tho furnaces by means of a contrivance coil-' 'structed by the engineering staff. When the oil and fittings were being burnt in the furnace, flames roared up the.funnel, making it rod hot, and causing some of tho cabins in that part of tho ship to become uncomfortably if not intolerably warm. All the cases from which the kerosene was taken served, to materially augment tho fuel supply, and although the vessel made slow progress sho ultimately rcachcd Portland on Friday morning, after a trip'of'seven days from Albany. She remained there until tho following day, when, having received a supply of good coal from tho Railway Department, sho-resumed her trip-to this port, arriving. on Sunday, morning. ■ A striking proof of. the severity of tho. ordeal to which it had been exposed was afforded by the vessel's funnel, which was blistered and blackened from top to-bottom. It_ had previously been painted a fairly bright yellow, but now not a vestige of this colour is to bo seen. The officers of the ship say that they had a very trying and anxious timo ■ from tho moment when the coal ran out until the arrival at Portland, the whole staff being almost continually on duty night and day. Tho Mimiro is a Vessel of 6225 tons; and belongs to. the " Tvscr " line, biit on her pre- 1 sent tnp t is . trading under the auspices ofthe "United Tyser" organisation.