PORT OF AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 12

PORT OF AUCKLAND

Essex Establishes Draught Record By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 30. .With a draught by tlie stern of 33ft. 7in„ the new Federal Line motor-ship Essex, which berthed this morning, broke the Auckland record for merchant tonnage. 11.M.5. Hood, 42,000 tons, drew only 32ft. Gin. Some units of tlie United States navy, which visited tlie port in 1925, however, drew up to 35ft. No difficulty was experienced in berthing the Essex. DOMINION RECORD Held in Wellington Since 1929 Tlie record, deep draught for the Dominion was established at Wellington iu 1929-30 by the Norwegian whaling factory ship Kosmos, which berthed at Pipitea wharf. Tins great ship, which measured 554 feet in length and 77 feet in breadth, 17,801 tons gross and 11,780 tons net register, paid three visits to Wellington, where she attracted great attention. She was then the largest whaling factory ship in the world. The Kosinos made three visits to Wellington, and her draughts on each arrival and departure were as follows: —First visit: Arrival, 36 feet aft and 27 feet forward; departure, 35 feet 3 inches aft and 34 feet 11 inches forward. Second visit: Arrival, 34 feet 1 inch aft and 34 feet 9 inches forward ; departure. 35 feet 7 inches aft and 35 feet 6 inches forward. Third visit: Arrival, 35 feet 11 inches aft and 28 feet 4 inches forward; departure. 35 feet 6 inches aft and 35 feet forward. The previous record draughts for Wellington were: Corinthie, 33 feet 6 inches aft. 32 feet 3 inches forward; Runic, 33 feet 1 inch eft. 32 feet 2 inches forward ; Ulysses, 33 feet aft, 32 feet forward.