REMARKABLE RECORD

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 301, 20 September 1928, Page 6

REMARKABLE RECORD

A 'CANKER’S VOYAGINGS MOTOR SHIP PERFORM ANU.E A very remarkable record of service is that of the big Norwegian motor tanker O. A. Knudsen, which for the last eighteen months has been running between California and Wellington on charter to the Union Steam Ship Company. Probably no ship trading to New Zealand has steamed more miles, spent a greater lime at sea, or carried more cargo, in the time than this tanker. ' 'The <>. A. Knudsen, which was launched on the Clyde about three years ago. is owned in Haugesliud, Norway, but she has never visited Iter home port. For the first twelve months of her sea-going career she was engaged in carrying fuel-oil from California to Chilian ports, during which time she (ravelled about 72.0(H) miles. In February of last, year llie O. A. Knudson was taken up by the Union Company on a time charter for twelve months, which has since been extended for another twelve months. The ship left Sau Luis Obispo, California, al. G a.m. on February 28, 1927, on her first run Io Wellington with 12,000 tons of fuel oil, and she arrived here at J p.m. on March 25 after a passage of 25 days 7 hours. Since (hat time the ship has been continually ruuning to and fro across the Paeifie. and she is now discharging her eleventh cargo. Cargo Ttinnago and Mileage. Since she first, left San Luis at. the end of February, 1927, the. O. A. Knudsen has brought approximately 132,000 tons of crude oil to Wellington, to deliver which she lias travelled nearly 121.1)00 miles. The tanker carries cargo only one way and always returns to Californm. in ballast. The ship delivers a cargo in Wellington practically once every eight weeks. The distance between Wellington and the loading port in California is approximately 5870 miles, so that the ship travels about J 1.7-10 miles for eaeli cargo carried. Including all time in port at each end, the average duration of the Knudsen’s last ten voyages from ■Wellington Io California and back bus been 5-1 days. The average lime spent in port, at either end during the last ISJ months is just over 18 hours. 'I lie O. A. Knudsen lias been fully loaded at llie Californian ports in just over six hours, but the average is leu hours. Her pumps are capable of discharging op Io GOO tons tin hour, but in Wellington she generally averages about. 500 tons an hour. Minimum Time in Purl. Counting from the time_she left. San Luis on February 28, .1927, on her first, voyage to Wollingfon up to her arrival here on Monday on her eleventh voyage, the O. A. Knudsen had been in the New Zealand service 5G7 days IS hours. Of that period the ship had spent. 11 days 13 hours in port al either end. so that, she had actually been at sea no fewer than 52G days 5 hours! Of.the total time spent in port. 20 (fays 5 hours was at Wellington and 21 days 8 hours at San Luis or San Pedro. (In three consecutive, voyages the Knudsen was in port at. Wellington only 31J hours. The longest lime here was GS hours at the end of last July. d’be O. A. Knudsen spent 72 hours al Sail Pedro last Augiisr. and nine days there in March, these lengthy slays being accounted for by the ship being in dry dock- for cleaning and painting on the first occasion and for overhaul and survey on the second. Tim shortest stay at San Pedro was 19 hours last Slay. A Credit to the Clyde. The 0. A. Knudsen is a. remarkable ship in many ways and her performances reflect great credit on her Scottish builders and the Norwegian oliieers and men who "run” her. Of 9026 lons gross and 5191 tons net register, she is -170 feet in length and G2 feet in breadth. She is fitted with twin 'crews, dri.en by two sets of six-cylinder Diesel engines, built by J. G. Kincaid and Co., Ltd., Glasgow, giving her a speed of about .11 knots when fully loaded. During the three years she Ims been running the O. A. Knudsen has never bad a stoppage al sea mi account of engine (rouble, ami her engineroom repair hill has been practically negligible. ’l'lie ship's remarkable performance in (he New Zealand trade has been made on an average consumption of 12 tons of fuel oil per day! A "Lady" at Sea. Of the crew who look tier from the builders’ hands three years ago. only three are still with the ship. They are the master. Captain J. Bakke; the chief ollicer, Mr. Briindald: and Hie chief engineer, Mr. Schriii'der. In all their voyag?ngs they have been accompanied by "Lady.” an Airedale terrier, which was bought by Captain Bakke in Glasgow. “Lady” slicks close by Hu’ ship, and has never been ashore at Wellington. She is a good sailor now, but she still shows her dislike of bad weather at sea. When the Knudsen is shipping seas in a gale "Lady” refuses to budge along the gangway 'connecting the bridge-deck amidships with the poop. She usually finds a cosy shelter in the chart-room, a ml whines her' disapproval of (he storm.