BIG CARGO OF OIL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 11

BIG CARGO OF OIL

WHALER KOSMOS RETURNING

DUE HERE WEDNESDAY

Word that the whaling factory ships C. A. Larson and Sir James Clark Boss were due at Stewart Island this week-end has been followed by the news that the giant Norwegian floating factory Kosmos is due here at noon on Wednesday. The Kosmos arrived at Wellington on her maiden voyage from Sandejford, Norway, on 7th October, and after taking on board a quantity of water and stores left on 12th October for the whaling grounds. She was then accompanied by seven chasers (Kos L- to Kos VII.), but according to advice received in the city to-day she'is bringing only six back with her. Tile Kosmos is not only the world's largest whaling factory ship, ■ but she is also the largest Norwegian-owned vessel of any description. Hor principal dimensions are length 570 ft, breadth 74.4 ft, width 50.6 ft, and she has a gross tonnage of 19,000. In addition to providing for her factory appliances and stores, sho has accommodation for about 300 men. The Kosmos has evidently, spent a good season among the whales, for she is returning laden with the equivalent of 116,000 barrels of oil. Sho has a total capacity for 120,000 barrels. It is probable that she will set a new record for the port in respect to depth of draught, as her draught .when she left Wellington was 35ft, which was lft 6in deeper than the previous deepest. After replenishing her stores the Kosmos will leave as soon as possible on the return voyage to Sandejford, Norway. Her chasers, however, will winter here, and undergo any necessary repairs. Arrangements were made in October for the chasers to be anchored in Evans,Bay for the winter. The return of the Kosmos recalls the fact that her whaling expedition was not its tragedy. On 30th December word was sent out by Mr. Bussell Owen, the " New York Times's" correspondent with Commander Byrd's Antarctic expedition, that Mr. .Lief Lier, pilot of the Kosmos's Gipsy-Moth 'plane, accompanied by Dr. Ingvald Schreiner, the ship's doctor, had left the mother ship on the previous day and had not returned. A search was instituted by all the whaling vessels in the vicinity, some of the chasers venturing far into the ice at considerable risk to themselves, and an offer of assistance was received from Byrd, but the weather conditions were unfavourable and no further trace of the flyers was found. ;