UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY

Evening Star, Issue 17543, 24 December 1920, Page 9

UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY

A PROGRESSIVE POLICY. FOUR OIL-BURNING LINERS BOATS BUILT AND PURCHASED. RAPID STRIDES SINCE THE WAR. Long before the war and equally since the cessation of hostilities the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand led the way in progressive policy, with the result that to-day the company own a fleet of steamers equal to that of almost any other company in the world. During the war the company, like many other similar combinations, went to considerable expense to refit several sailing vessels for sea service to take their place in the oversea trade when tonnage was at a premium, owing to the severe loss by sinkings. The sailing ships resurrected were the famous old barque Dartford. which was then being utilised as a coal hulk in Wellington Harbor ; the barque Gladbrook, then a hulk in Auckland Harbor ; and the barquentine Ilma, also used as a hulk at Auckland. The Dartford has made many voyages between New Zealand, Australia, and America since she was reconditioned at Port Chalmers over three years ago. The Gladbrook, which was also refitted at Port Chalmers, has made several creditable passages between New Zealand and the West Coast of South America ports and vice versa, and is still in commission. The Ilma, after making several deep sea voyages, was again dismantled on arrival at Auckland over twelve months ago. and will no doubt end her days as a humble coal hulk. LOSSES DURING THE WAR. During the period of the war various companies running vessels between New Zealand. Australia, and Europe had a large number of losses through the action of the Germans. The heaviest were those of the Peninsular and Oriental Company (eleven steamers), while the Union Company came next with the loss of eight vessels. The following is the list of the latter's losses, names, gross tonnage, and the method of destruction: Avenger, 15,000 tons, sunk in North Sea on June 13, 1917, while acting as an auxiliary cruiser. Wairuna, 4.237 tons, sunk by raider Wolf on June 3, 1917, off Sunday Island while on a voyage from Auckland to San Francisco. Limerick, 6,827 tons, torpedoed in Ægean Sea on June 14. 1917. She was formerly known as the Rippingham Grange. Roscommon. 7,031 tons, torpedoed off Tory Island on August 21, 1917. Waikawa, 5.666 tons. torpedoed off Dartmouth on October 19, 1917. Formerly the Schlesien, sold as a war prize to the Maritime Company for about £60.000. and purchased a few months later by the Union Company. Aparima, 5,704 tons, torpedoed in English Channel early in November, 1917. She was one of the finest cargo vessels in the company's fleet, and carried nearly 40 cadets.

Waihemo. 4.286, tons, torpedoed in Medi terranean March 17, 1918.

Waitemata, 5.423 tons, torpedoed in Mediterranean July 14, 1918. In addition the cargo steamer Westmeath was torpedoed in the English Channel on July 15, 1917, but, the captain managed to get the vessel safely to an English port, where she was subsequently repaired. OTHER LOSSES. Tn addition to the above losses the cargo steamer Waitotara (4.417 tons) was burnt at sea on June 17, 1917, while on a voyage from Vancouver to Auckland; the old mail and passenger steamer Maitai, employed for many years in the coastal, intercolonial, and San Francisco services, was wrecked on a reef at Rarotonga on December 25, 1916: the steamer Koonya. which had been employed in the Tas-manian-Sydney trade for many years, was wrecked at Sandy Cape, Tasmania, on June 3, 1919, during a, heavy storm. STEAMERS SOLD. Following is a list of steamers sold within the last six years:— Pukaki. 1,444 tons, April, 1915, to W. Crossley and Co., Melbourne. Hauroto, 1,988 tons. April, 1915. to Messrs Lane and Dawson, Sydney. Aorangi, 4,268 tons, June, 1915, to Imperial Government. Manapouri, 2,060 tons, June. 1915, to a Japanese firm. Warrimoo. 3.529 tons, February, 1917, to a Chinese firm. Moura, 2,027 tons, September. 1915, to Messrs Lane and Dawson. The Willochra was chartered from the Adelaide Steamship Company before the outbreak of war. She was employed in the intercolonial service for some time, and was taken over as a troopship shortly after started. When her trooping days were over she was refitted at Port Chalmers, and her last trip from New Zealand was made when she carried a large number of repatriated Germans back to the Fatherland. It will be seen that the aggregate gross tonnage lost during the war period through enemy action, wreck, and fire was approximately 63,084 tons. NEW TONNAGE PURCHASED. Before the close of the war the directors of the company began to look about for new tonnage in order to maintain the most important cargo services, and in a short period the following steamers, several of which had been built during the war, were purchased, and have since been regularly employed in the Pacific trade: Wairuna, 5,832 gross tons. Waitemata, 5.729 gross tons. Waikawa, 5.677 gross tons. Waihemo, 5.627 gross tons. Kaiwarra, 3.051 gross tons. Leitrim, 9,540 tons gross. Built 1915, launched October, 1915; trials, January 22, 1916; maiden voyage to Melbourne, July, 1916. Armagh, 12,269 tons gross. Built 1917, and launched in April of that year; transferred from Federal Steam Navigation Company to the Union Company, January, 1918. The Avenger was built in 1914; and launched in June, 1915. The Waitemata was purchased in February, 1919, while on the stocks. The Wairuna was formerly known as the Polestar, and was purchased in March, 1919. The Kaiwarra was built in 1919, and delivered in July of that year. The Waikawa was formerly known as the War Dragon, being one of the standardised ships built by the British Government during the war. She was purchased in May, 1919. The Waihemo was purchased in May, 1919. Other vessels purchased during recent years were the steamers Kokiri (formerly Lauderdale), the Kahika (formerly Ennerdale), and the Karu (formerly Holmdale). These were all acquired from the Maoriland Steamship Company, and had been employed in the coastal and intercolonial coal and timber trade for some years. THE LATEST PURCHASES. The company's fleet was still far short of what it was in pre-war days, and the directors only a few months ago purchased eight more cargo steamers in England. Several of these were ex-German liners which were either captured or handed over to the British Admiralty. The following is the list of the latest purchases, showing their former names, their new names, and gross tonnage:— Waiotapu, ex Stolberg, 5,886 tons. Waikouaiti, ex Irmgard, 3,680 tons. Kawatiri, ex Shahristan, 3,127 tons. Kaikorai, ex Cape Natal, 3,112 tons. Kaitoke, ex Cape Colony, 3,096 tons. Kekerangu, ex Cosmos, 3,091 tons. Kaimanawa, ex John Heidmann, 2,380 tons. Koranui, ex Cleopatra, 1,215 tons. AGGREGATE GROSS TONNAGE IN 1914. In July, 1914, one month before the outbreak of the war, the company owned 74 passenger and cargo steamers, and in addition, had the chartered steamer Willochra on the list. Following are the particulars:— - - 74 steamers ... 225,512 tons 3 steamers building ... 37,000 tons 1 chartered steamer ... 7,784 tons Grand total tonnage, 270.296.

AGGREGATE GROSS TONNAGE TO-DAY. Whereas the company lost eleven steamers through various causes during the war period, they have since replaced them with fifteen steamers, all cargo boats. These fifteen vessels have an aggregate gross tonnage of 73,312, which is an increase of 10,228 tons gross on the tonnage lost. However, although the company now own twenty-eight passenger and fifty-one cargo steamers, the aggregate gross tonnage today is 256,789, or 13,507 tons less than it was in July, 1914. This is accounted for by the fact that many of the vessels recently purchased are much smaller than those lost during the war period. OIL-BURNING LINERS. Rapid strides have been made by the company in the conversion of large passenger steamers into oil-burning ships. When the Maunganui completed her trooping career she was laid up at Port Chalmers, and the task of converting her furnaces for the use of oil fuel was proceeded with. This proved a huge undertaking for any marine repair works in New Zealand ; but it is understood that the job has been completed satisfactorily. The Maunganui is ready for sea, but no definite date has been fixed for her recommission. All three mail steamers of the company's fleet employed in connection with the Canadian-Australian mail service now burn oil fuel. The latest steamer to be reconditioned for oil fuel is the R.M.S. Makura, The work of refitting this steamer was carried out at San Francisco, and was carried out very expeditiously. The Makura proceeded to Vancouver early in December, and sailed from that port on December 17 for Auckland and Sydney via ports. Her first trip as an oil-burner is arousing considerable interest, and she is expected to show a good turn of speed. The R.M.S. Niagara has always burned oil fuel, and the results proved so satisfactory that the directors decided to recondition the Tahiti and Makura. Other steamers of the company will also be altered when opportunity occurs. One of the chief advantages of oil fuel is of course, the saving of labor in the engine room. There is also a distinct gain in the matter of speed, as the slackening off of pace when cleaning fires under coal consumption is avoided. NEW TYPE OF CARGO STEAMER. A new type of cargo carrier is also being constructed by Messrs W. Denny and Bros., Ltd., at Dumbarton. She will be of about 5,000 tons gross, and exactly similar to the three motor passenger liners under construction for the British-India Steam Navigation Company, except that she is designed purely as a cargo vessel instead of a combined passenger and cargo ship. The engine room is arranged practically amidships, and there are three cargo holds forward and two aft. The machinery will comprise two of the new class of four-cycle engines built by the North British Diesel Engine Works. These are of 2,330 b.h.p., a standard type that, is also being employed in the British India passenger liners. The motors have eight cylinders, 26½in diameter, and 47in stroke, and will run at 97 revolutions per minute. The vessel is to trade between New Zealand the United Kingdom. Her length will be 450 ft, beam 58ft, and draught 27ft 10in. and her dead weight capacity will be 10,500 tons. This type of ship will be a new departure so far as New Zealand shipping is concerned. The vessel is expected to be ready for launch-, ing early next year. SYDNEY-SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. It was announced by the company some months ago that arrangements had been made for the resumption of the pre-war mail and passenger service between Sydney, Wellington, and San Francisco by the Tahiti and Maunganui. Since the war Wellington has been made the terminal port of the San Francisco mail steamers, and the decision of the company to place the service on its prewar footing was doubtless due to the increase in passenger and freight traffic over this route. The Tahiti has completed her term in the Vancouver service, and will leave Vancouver on December 20 for Honolulu, Wellington, and Sydney. She will no doubt inaugurate the new service to San Francisco from Sydney early in the new year.

The company's hulk Adderley has been converted into an oil store ship at Wellington for the replenishing of bunkers at this end of the route. An up-to-date oil fuel depot has also been established at Ball's Head, Sydney, for the purpose of bunkering at that port.