IN QUEST OF OIL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 86, 8 October 1929, Page 10

IN QUEST OF OIL

GIANT FACTORY SHIP

KOSMOS FROM NORWAY

WITH. SEVEN CHASERS

Aeeompanied by seven whale-chasers, each of 283 tons gross register, the world's largest whaling-ship—the Kosmos—arrived at Wellington early this morning on her maiden voyage from Norway. After,transferring a quantity of explosives for the killing of whales to her chasers, which are known as the K05..1., 11., 111., IV., V., VI-., and VII., the Kosmos proceeded to her berth at Pipitea Wharf, where she is taking in 4000 tons of water, and having minor adjustments made to her machinery before sailing for the Boss Sea, where she will engage in the greatest whale hunt that has ever been known in that portion of the southern seas.

Constructed on the longitucliual system to Lloyd's Register's highest class, and in compliance with the requirements of the Norwegian Sea Control, the Kosmos is 570 ft in overall length, 77ft in breadth, and 50ft Gin in depth. The displacement is about 32,000 tons. The factory is in the upper 'tween deck, which has a. depth of over 15ft,'and is equipped with the latest machinery for the economical extraction of oil from the maximum catch of whales. The weather deck above the factory is clear of obstructions to facilitate the handling of the whales and the cutting-up process. At its after end is a large slipway along which the whale carcasses are drawn from the sea by means of powerful winches and special derricks. Spacious accommodation is fitted for the vessel's officers, engine-room complement, and factory crew, while extensive insulated and ordinary storerooms and cooking facilities are provided to meet the requirements of the vessel's special trade, which necessitates long absence from home waters.

' A very large distilling plant is carried to ensure a constant supply of fresh water. The propelling machinery—which lias also teen constructed by Messrs. Workman, Clark—consists of a set of quadruple expansion engines taking steam from five oil-fired cylindrical multi-tubular boilers, fitted with superheaters and working at a pressure of 2501b. In the engine-room are a number of special features designed to cope with the requirements-of the special trade in which the vessel will be employed in the Antarctic seas. NORWAY'S LARGEST VESSEL. Incidentallyjjt is not only, the largest vessel of the whaling fleet, but the largest vessel of Norway. The tanks have a capacity ofi 120,000 barrels. Her draft when loaded is about 32ft. The Kosmos has been.built as an ordinary oil-tanker oil the Isherwood system and to Lloyd's highest class, and in conformity with the demands of the Norwegian Sea Control. . The vessel will be able to carry, from presumably the least expensive bunker place on -the globe, sufficient fuel for an expedition of five months, whereas other floating factories operating in the same" waters are only able to carry, enough fuel for three and a half months. ' SEAPLANE CARRIED ON BOARD. With a huge expanse of deck capable of accommodating several tennis courts, and two squat funnels situated well aft on the port and starboard sides, the Kosrnos somewhat resembles the larger oil tankers that frequently visit Wellington. The Kosmos, which is ono of the largest commercial vessels that have over visited Wellington, was built in England by Messrs. Workman Clark (1928), Ltd. She was only launched a few mouths ago, and represents the very latest in whaling ship design. Included in her equipment is a De Haviland Moth seaplane, which will be used for "spotting" whales in the Antarctic, and also for maintaining communication between the mother ship and the chasers when they aro separated by pack ice. Mr. Leif Lier, a Norwegian aviator, is with the Kosmos, and will pilot tho seaplane. A very complete wireless station is installed, and the vossel will be able to maintain communication with Norway during the wholo of tho time she is in the Antarctic. SHIP'S PERSONNEL. The Kosmoa is under the command of Captain Hans Andresen, whose officers are: Chief, Mr. A. Christiansen; second, Mr. L. Larson; third, Mr. L. Moo; fourth, Mr. L. Welding; chief engineer, Mr. .1. Andresen; second, Mr. 1\ Lnrscn; third, Mr. K. Larsen; fourth, Mr. A. NTilsen. Dr. Ingvold Schneiner is the ship's surgeon.

The niother-sliip is manned by a crow of 227, and there are another hundred men distributed among the chasers, each of which is under a captain and a chief officer. In most cases the captain is also the gunner. While the Kosmos is in the whaling area the crew will be divided into shifts, and the work will bo carried on day and night. It.is possible that a further ton men will bo taken on before leaving Wellington. \ THE VOYAGE. The Kosmos left Sandef.jord on 10th August, and proceeded to Falmouth for docking. The latter port was cleared on 19th August, and tho only other call en route, apart from the Panama Canal, was at Curacao, where tho big vessel replenished her fuel oil bunkers. She, of course, carries a supply sufficient not only for her own needs, but also for her convoy of chasers, tho latter fuelling in mid-ocean. She at present has in her bunkers 18;800 tons of oil fuel. The voyage was entirely uneventful, and the .weather was mainly fine. Tho Kosmos is expected to leave AVelliugton on Saturday afternoon for the Antarctic, and will commence hunting whales outside the ice pack. When the ice breaks she will proceed to the Boss Sqa for the really serious work of the season. _ If she meets with tho success anticipated, she will return to Wellington somo time in March with ;ibout £500,000 worth of whale oil aboard