Ships and the Sea

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 30

Ships and the Sea

A BRISK WEEK

SHIPPING AT WELLINGTON

The arrival of tho British Imperial Oil Company's new coastal tanker Paua was the main event of this week's shipping at the port of Wellington. The addition of this fine little vessel to the merchant marine fleet of New Zealand marks.a now chapter in the history of the Dominion's shipping, and a most important step forward. The Schouwen arrived at Wellington on Sunday afternoon from Auckland with 1450 tons of cargo to discharge from Montreal. She sailed again on Wednesday afternoon for Lyttelton to continue unloading. A very unusual rush of overseas steamers occurred on Monday morning, and the pilot staff was fully engaged in berthing tho vessels. Their task was also made the more difficult by the strong southerly which lasted for several hours.

The Canadian Challenger, which arrived here on Sunday night, was berthed first thing to unload 1000 tons of shipments from Montreal; ;::id the "Vest Islip shortly after this was brought alongside Taranaki Street Wharf to discharge 757,000 feet of timber, 5000 cases of gasoline, and 500 tons of general cargo from the Pacific coast of America. At the same time the R.M.S. Tahiti was berthed at Queen's Wharf to unload a little over 100 tons from Sydney; and the Somerset at Glasgow Wharf to discharge 3495 tons of freights from Home. The Somerset had several rather heavy lifts to come out of her, hold, and the Hikitea had to bo brought into commission to hoist and carry these to Thorndon breastwork. The tanker O. A. Knudson, which also arrived at Wellington on Monday morning, was berthed shortly after midday at Miramar to discharge 81,000 barrels of crude oil from San Pedro. '

The Kaponga came in on Tuesday morning with the usual supply of coal from Newcastle; and the Tahiti, the Canadian Challenger, and the Port Hunter sailed in the afternoon—the first in continuation of her journey to San Francisco, via Barotonga and Papeete; the second for Lytteltou to continue unloading;., and the third to continue loading at Napier for the United Kingdom. With passengers and mails from Sydney, the intercolonial steamer Maheno came in early on Wednesday morning; an dthe Karotu a few hours later from the same port, bringing most of the Maheno's cargo -with her, as the passenger steamer was only at Sydney 11 hours on her last-visit, and had to catch up with her schedule. The Karctu brought 997 tons to Wellington, as well as a large quantity of mail matter, v and sailed again on Thursday to continue unloading at Southern ports. The O. A. Knudson sailed on Wednesday morning for San Luis, California. To continue discharging freights from Home, the Federal steamer Middlesex sailed from Wellington on Thursday afternoon for Auckland. The Treworlas completed the week's overseas arrivals when she came in on Friday afternoon with 2200 tons to unship from >Tow York; and tho • departures wore completed with the Somerset sailing yesterday for Southern ports to unload the remainder of her consignments from Home; and the West lalip for further discharge at Lyttelton.

The Union Company's Indian freighter Sussex is expected here to-morrow from Auckland to unload further cargo from Calcutta find other Eastern ports.

Loss of the Birkdale.

One nioro of the world's attenuated fleet of sailing- Bhips has disappeared. The Peruvian barque Birkdalc, bound from Hull to Callao, which was at first posted as "overdue," has now been reported as wrecked on Lobos Island, in the Kelson Channel, Chili, after having been on firo. The Birkdalo was one of tho last British barques, having been owned in this country till IDiM, when sho was sold to Messrs. G. Ronald mid Co., of Callao. Built in 1592, of 1483 tons gross register, sho had an adventurous career, and in 1912 was drifting for over 50 days, disabled by storm. Sho was rescued by a French steamer of Philippcvillc, and survived to do useful work during tho war, when she was employed in the Pacific, well away from tho submnrino menace.

New German Motor Liners.'

The two now 16,000-ton motor passenger liners, built by the Hamburg-Ame-rican Lino for the North Atlantic service, are to be named tho Cincinnati and tho Milwaukoe. The Cincinnati is tho second of her name in tho service of tho line, tho first having been interned at Boston during tho war, and later taken over by tho United States Government for transport scrvico and renamed the Covington. She was torpedoed in 1918.

Pigeon's night.

The voguo for transatlantic flight seems to have spread to the bird kingdom. A carrier pigeon has beon picked up by Mr. J. B. Martin, a farmer, living 25 miles from Montreal, bearing a ring inscribed "Lille, France." Tho bird was in an exhausted condition. If it be true that a pigeon has actually flown from Franco to Canada, the feat is a very remarkable one. But it must be borne in mind that a bird would have opportunities while in transit of resting on the masts or rigging of ships. That birds do fly great distances is woll known, for example, swallows, which migrate from northern countries to Africa, but these journeys are done in stages.

Busy Ship Dismantlers,

Following on their purchase recently of Eastwood Swingler'a works at Derby, and Crowley's Foundries, Sheffield, Thos. W. Ward, Ltd., Sheffield, the well-known dismantlers of works and ships, have purchased the cruiser Glasgow which was with Admiral Craddock 's fleet in tho-fight, off Coronet and subsequently took part with Admiral Sturdee's fleet in the Falkland Islands battle,.and. the liner Ortega, which was in comniissSjn until recently. In September, 1914, the Ortega, when chased by two German cruisers off Cape George on tho West Coast of South America^ escaped through tho uncharted Nelson Channel, into which her pursuers did not daro to follow. Other vessels purchased by the firm include tho monitors Abercrombie and Havelock.

Piako Damaged,

Damage was done 55ft above tho water-lino of the freighter Piako, which visited Wellington at the beginning of this year, when a huge sea struck the vessel while she was crossing the Indian Ocean, reports the Sydney "Daily Telegraph." Crashing on the starboard side of the freighter the sea overwhelmed the lower* decks, navigation bridge,, and a small bridge above, known as "monkey island." On this bridge is installed the ship's standard compass, and it was here that heavy wooden rails and side panelling were smashed and carried away by the foreo of the impact. The glass windows of the chart room and navigation room bolow were shattered, and fragments of glass scored holes in the woodwork. A quartermaster at the wheel, and an officer in the chart room were assailed.by broken glass and deluge of water, but they were not seriously hurt. Finding no ready outlet from tho port side of the navigation bridge, the water smashed some panelling, and portion of the same wave ripped put the gear of one of the lifeboats.

Rapid Shipbuilding.

Tho bulk oil-carrying vessels under construction at Belfast by Messrs. Harland and WolS are, states "Fairplay," being built in remarkably quick time. The case of the twin-screw shallow draft steamers for Messrs. Andrew Weir and Co. is in point. These are vessels of 2300 or 2400 tons gross, and are fitted with triple expansion engines. One has been brought to the launching stage in 15 weeks, another in 14i weeks, and another in 13 weeks, and in roughly three weeks thereafter they have all been delivered completed. Ohviously, only a fine organisation could get through work at that rate.

Steamers for India,

The Jalabala, a steamer of 0900 tons dead-weight, which was launched by Lithgows, Ltd., Port Glasgow, in July, for the Scindia Steam Navigation Co., of Bombay, is the first modern ship ordered by and delivered to an Indianowned and Indian-managed company. Intended for the Indian coasting trade, she is of the poop bridge and top-gal-lant forecastle type, and has been designed and constructed under the supervision of Sir John Biles and Co. Two 8000-ton vessels are under construction by Messrs. Lithgow for the same owners, and will be launched later in the year.

British Tonnage Decreasing.

The proportion of the world's tonnage under the British flag still continues to decrease. Comparing Lloyd's Begistrar Book of 1914 and 1927, it is revealed that the world's tonnage in these thirteen years increased by 17,863,000 tons. In 1914, Great Britain owned 41.6 per cent, of the world's steam and motor tonnage. That figure has now shrunk to 30.3 per cent. Nevertheless, over 20.5 per cent, of British tonnage is less than five years old, and the only two merchant navies which have a larger proportion of new vessels are the German (25.2 per cent.) and the Norwegian (21.4 per cent.). It would be interesting to know what proportion of the world's tonnage is being supported by means of subsidies and various discriminating nleasures, and what proportion is being run at a profit on ordinary commerical principles.

Hospital Ship Beconditioned.

A somewhat unusual reconditioning job is at present in progress at the Todd Dry Docksi, Seattle. The vessel in question is the Comfort, an ex-hospital ship, and she is to 1)0 transformed into a passenger and. cargo carrier for the Atlantic, Gulf, and West Indies service. The ship, whicli is 6391 tons gross, was built in 1907 by Messrs. William Cranm and Sons for the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Company, and was known as the Havana. As reconstructed, she will have increased refrigerated space and accommodation for 250 firstclass and 100 second-class passengers. The contract price, including the thorough overhaul of the machinery and the provision of ten electric winches, etc., is 800,000 dollars, and the work must be completed to the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping within 105 days.

U.S. Merchant Fleet.

The Merchant Fleet Corporation have suggested to the XJnited States Shipping Board that 27 per cent, of tho Government's idle fleet of cargo ships, aggrogating almost 1,000,000 tons should he sold for breaking up. The proposal involves the sale by competitive bidding of 129 vessols, which the Corporation officials declare, if carried out, would save the Government thousands of dollars a year spent on keeping these idle ships in a fair state of repair. It would also bo the largest sale for scrapping, in terms of aggregate tonnage, that the Government has carried out since it lias been in tho shipping business. The last big deal of this character, involving more ships but less tonnage, was to Mr. Henry Ford, who bought 390 vessels of 813,820 tons for 1,710,000 dollars. While tho vessels sold to Mr. Ford ranged between 3000 and 4000 tons, tho 129 selected by the Fleet Corporation as "unsuitable for commercial, emergency, or military purposes in connection with tho merchant marino programme," are between 4000 arid 9500 tons. Under the proposed sale certain parts of tho machinery in the ships, which now nro lying idle at nine different place on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts, would bo retained for replacement purposes.

Orders for Britain.

That Dutch shipbuilding yards are experiencing more and more difficulties in competing with foreign yards, especially with those of Great Britain, is evident from tho fact that during July a well-known Kotterdam' firm of shipowners were; compelled' to place the order for two new vessels with a North of England firm, Messrs. Van Nievelt, Goudriaan, and Co., the firm in question, would naturally havo preferred to give the work to a Dutch yard, arid, in fact, requested tenders from all tho leading Dutch yards. After full consideration, however, these yards wore informed that tho tenders submitted were all much too high, so that the owners wore reluctantly compelled to cancel their arrangements for now ships. It was only some time later that these owners dctiided to try ana place the order abroad, and the offer received from Mcssni. William Gray and Co., of West Hartlepool, .proving to be much lower than the lowest quotation from a Dutch yard, the contract was placed with them. The order is for two cargo vessels of 9000 tons each, driven by stc-ui, and to be delivered in May and Juno of next year.

King Fuad's Blver Yacht.

A handsome yacht has recently been erected and completed by the Government workshops at Cairo for King Fuad pi Egypt. Sho was designed and built in pieces for re-erection in Eeypt by Messrs. John I. Thornycroft. and Co" .Ltd., at their Southampton yard The vessel is of the side paddle type, and was designed with shallow draught and of suitable dimensions for navigating the Nile and passing through the locks at Assiut and Esna. The designers sent out to Cairo all the prepared materials tor the construction of the vessel, which is 237 ft 9in in length overall, 32ft breadth moulded, and Oft 6in in depth. The royal apartments are arranged in two teak deckhouses on the promenatlo deck, and staterooms and dinine saloon for guests in other two teak de'khouses on the upper deck. The royal apartments comprise an observation room right forward, a drawing room adjoining, dining room, the King's bedroom with ante-room and bathroom en suite, a similar suite of rooms for the Queen, bedrooms with bathrooms adjoining for the Prince, the Princess and guests, and a suite of six bedrooms for Ladies of Honour right aft. The cold storage accommodation amidships consists of yegetablo room, ice store, and refrigerated store, entered from an air lock. The vessel is schooner rigged with two tall masts, and has a very smart appearance, which is embellished by large carvings on the bows, paddle boxes, and stern. These carvings were all executed by native Egyptian workr men. The hull and structural steel work of the decks and deckhouses required special consideration to ensure strength without excessive weight. Teak is used for the main, promenade, and bridge decks, and the sun deck is made of one thickness of teak and one of mahogany laid diagonally over one another and clenched together with linen between.