LONG JOURNEY ENDED

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 75, 22 December 1926, Page 11

LONG JOURNEY ENDED

HARBOUR BOARD'S FLOATING CRANE ARRIVES IN PORT YESTERDAI

The arrival in the stream yesterday morning of the Wellington Harbour Board’s new floating crane, Hikitia, from Greenock, Scotland, via the Panama Canal, completed a voyage _ which is relieved to bo unique in the history of shipping. The vessel accomplished the trip ••itli her forty-ton jib hoisted up ready for operation, despite which she made the voyage without incident, an unprecedented performance. ' _ . The Hikitia (which in English means "to lift”) was built and engmed P.V Messrs; Fleming and Ferguson, at P a,s * ley. Scotlond. She has twin propellers, which give a speed of between 8 and J knots. The vessel is 160 ft. in length between perpendiculars. 54ft. >n beam over-all. 12ft. moulded depth, and has a maximum draught of 9ft. Gin. there are .two sets of compound surface condensing direct action engines supnljed with steam from one mnltitubuuir boner with two fires. The Hikitia is ol <46 tons gross and 357 tons net. The crane was constructed by Sir William Arrol and Co., Glasgow. It can lift

a load of 80 tons with a maximum radius of .50ft., 60 tons with a 65ft. radius, and 15 tons with a 75ft. radius. The speed of lifting is 80 tons at 4 feet per minute, 40 tons at 8 feet, 25 tons at 12 feet and 15 tons at 24 feet. One revolution in slewing with 80 tons can bo made in 4 minutes. The height of the point of suspension of the jib is 52 feet above the deck. The weight of the crane without the vessel’s hull is 310 lons, and it stood a test of 100 tons’ load at the Clyde. Captain Fullarton, who brought the Hikitia to Wellington, reported that fairly good weather prevailed generally, 'it during the run from Papeete to Wellington on December 13 bad weather was encountered which necessitated, the vessel lining hove-to. Captain Fullartqn stated that the llilutia rolled very slightly

end he was satisfied' that with the jib down the vessel would have rolled considerably more. The crane and superstructure were lashed by ten heavy steel guys to prevent any swinging at sen. The Hikitia resembles the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s floating crane, Rapaki, which made flic trip from Scotland about

four months ago. The Rapaki, however, had her jib lowered and made fast on the deck. She encountered severe weather and was badly buffeted, putting m to Wipiro Bay, East Coast, to replenish her food and coal supplies. The Hikitia made the voyage to Wellington in 814 days, and the actual steaming time was 7" days. On her arrival she was met by Messrs. Corry-Wright and Salmon. agents for Sir William Arrol . ana Co. The vessel carried a crew of 15 all told. . The floating crane will prove a vatuable acquisition to the port of Wellington, as it is expected to be the means of saving much time and expense in handling heavy lifts from oversea liners. Hitherto liners have had to leave their discharging berths to go to the 45-ton crane on the Jervois Quay wharf, or to the 29-fon crane, at the outer end-, of tlio railway wharf, to put out heavy lifts. The Hikitia. however, will go alongside the liners and pick up heavy lifts, which she can transfer to any wharf desired.