TASMAN EXPRESS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 12

TASMAN EXPRESS

Great Performance Of

Awatea

FINE STEAMING RECORD

The Union Company’s Tasman express liner Awatea, which departed from Wellington last night for Sydney, where she is to undergo her annual overhaul and refit, has achieved a remarkable steaming record during her second commission. When she arrives at Sydney next Monday the ship will have steamed more than 10S,000 nautical miles in less than 13 months and will have completed well over -00,000 miles since she left Greenock for New Zealand just over two years ago. The Awatea was recommissioned ior her second season in the trans-Tasman service in July of last year and left Sydnev for Auckland on July’ 01. one started her fast summer schedule in the middle of November and maintained a round voyage a week, including occasional coastal passages from Wellington to Auckland, without a break far six months. In the middle of May she reverted to the schedule of a round voyage between Sydney and Wellington or Auckland every ten da vs. Thus since July 31, 1937, until she arrives at Rj'dney next .Monday, August 22, the Awatea will have travelled 108,000 nautical miles, involving 84 crossings of the Tasman Sea and five coastal passages from Wellington to Auckland. ' The Tasman passages include 53 between Sydney aud Wellington (29 eastbound and 24 westbound) and 31 between Sydney and Auckland (13 eastbound and 18 westbound). • , The Awatea arrived at Wellington from the Clyde via the Panama Canal, a passage of 11,218 miles, in August, 1930, and started her running in the intercolonial service on September 15 of that year. During her first commission, which ended on May 22, 1937, the Awatea steamed 82,438 miles, making 01 crossings of the Tasman Sea, 10 coastal passages between Wellington and Auckland and one coastal cruise (Christmas, 1936). After her first overhaul and refit, the Awatea resumed running on July 31, 1937, aud has now added another fine steaming performance to her record, as well as setting up new speed records between Auckland and Sydney and Sydney and Wellington. During her summer running, she several times steamed more than 11,000 nines a month. When she arrives at Sydney on Monday, the Awatea will have steamed a total of 190,-198 miles in the intercolonial service and completed 14a crossings of the Tasman Sea, as well as 15 coastal' passages between Wellington and Auckland.