NEW MOTOR-SHIP AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 10

NEW MOTOR-SHIP AT AUCKLAND

Essex’s Fast Passage PORT DRAUGHT RECORD CREATED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 30. One of the finest ships of her type ever to have visited Auckland, the Federal Line’s new 11,000-ton motorship Essex showed remarkable speed and cargo capacity on her voyage from Liverpool. Breaking all Auckland records for inward merchant draught, the Essex was drawing 33ft. Tin. by the stern when she berthed. In spite of setbacks on the journey from Liverpool, which she cleared on the morning of J une 30, the Essex came out in 29 days. Her actual steaming time of 27 days 21 hours has probably never been bettered by any ship in the trade. Fog for the first few days out of Liverpool forced the Essex to travel at reduced speed, but the motor-ship was able to average more than 17 knots to Panama. Her time from port to port was seriously affected in the Canal zone, where the Essex, making her first voyage through the canal, was measured. More than a day was lost through the delay. Until the Essex was within four days of Auckland, more than 17 knots was again averaged, but strong head winds and heavy seas slowed down the speed of the heavily-laden ship. On her trials on the Clyde last September the Essex made-20 knots under adverse conditions.