A RECORD RUN

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 179, 27 April 1931, Page 8

A RECORD RUN

Thirty-one Days to London OTAIO’S FAST PASSAGE A new record for the passage from New Zealand to London has been established by the New Zealand' Shipping Company’s motor ship Otaio, which made the run from Wellington via the Panama Canal to the Royal Albert Dock, London, In 31 days 7 hours, cutting nearly a whole day from the previous record. This is a remarkable performance, in view of the fact that it was made by the Otaio on her maiden voyage. It is usually considered necessary for a new ship to make a voyage or two to allow her engines to be “run in.” Although she is now the holder of the New Zealand-London record, the Otalo’s engines have not yet been “opened out,” and it is considered that she will do even better later on. The Otaio, which loaded at New Zealand ports to the agency of the Federal Line, was carrying a full cargo of frozen meat, dairy produce, wool, fruit, etc., when she left Wellington at 4 p.m. on March 23. She arrived at Balboa on April 9 and cleared Colon on April 10, and on Friday the New Zealand Shipping Company received a cable message stating that the Otaio docked in the Royal Albert Docks, London, at 11.30 a.m. on April 23, the passage taking 31 days 7 hours. Included in this time was the necessary stop at Balboa to replenish her oil bunkers, and the time occupied in making the transit of the canal. The Otaio’s actual steaming time, therefore, should be well under 31 days, a really meritorious performance for a new motor ship. The previous record, established last year by the Shaw, Savill motor ship Karamea, was 32 days 4 hours 22 minutes elapsed time, with an actual steaming time of 31 days 12 hours 4 minutes.

Captain G. F. Mead is in command of the Otaio and Mr. J. F. Mitchell is chief engineer. The Otaio is to leave Liverpool again on June 6 for Auckland, and it is believed that she will make another record passage out. The Otaio is propelled by two sets of Doxford fourcylinder opposed piston, airless-injection heavy oil engines, capable of maintaining 9450 brake horse-power at 120 revolutions per minute. The Orari, a sister ship to the Otaio. arrived at "Wellington yesterday morning on her maiden voyage from Liverpool, via Auckland, and she also has shown a high turn of speed. The Opawa, the third of the three new sister ships, is to leave Liverpool on May 23 for New Zealand.