FROM DREDGE TO STEAMER

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 6

FROM DREDGE TO STEAMER

THE PROGRESS CONVERTED, VESSEL WITH A HISTORY. Almost every vessel, whether steam or sail, has a history. There is in Otago Harbor at tho present time a vessel which, although about forty years have expired in nee she was launched, is destined to carry out a further period of service. This vessel is tho Progress, which during the w ar porindl was purchased by Messrs Miller Bros., of Pori. Chalmers, from the Oamam Harbor Board. Tonnage was then at a premium. Tho Progress had carried out useful work at Oamaru as a, dredge for many years prior to the war. She was bought.' by Miller Bros, and brought to Port Chalmers, where flic was converted into a sailer for the coastal trade. This work was a large undertaking, as, in addition to the removal of heavy machinery, extensive structural alterations had to be effected. Having been rigger! as a threemasted schooner, the Progress put to sea, and after making mm or two cea-stal trips she ma.do a deep-sea voyage to Sydney with a cargo of timber. She subsequently returned to New Zealand, and a* the trip to Australia did not prove a prelilable one, she was put on the lay-up her Mi at Carey Bay. Port Chalmeis.

The Progress lay there.- for many, months. The owners intended, to install Diesel oil engines, but this was not undertaken for several reasons, and it. was later decided In install steam m-.ipelling machinery. Messrs MTi'regoi- and Co. were then entrusted with the work of installing (he machinery, which was commenced aWdDecember last. As it was intended to make the vessel an. up-to-date cargo steamer, certain sti uctural alterations were necessary, -and those were carried out by Messrs Miller Bros, Owing to bad weather intervening, however, little progress was made with the shipwright work until about, five weeks ago. The vessel was towed up to Dunedin shortly after the work was commenced, and she has orcuided a, berth at the north end of the, Victoria wharf for the. oast two or three months. While the shipwrights had to mnko improvements on board, such as new quartets for the oliicere and members of tho crew, very little actual fitrncTnral work was needed to the hull. It was found necessary, however, to fit ono now bulkhead and ii new bunker for carrying about forty tons of coal. The engines now installed are of the compound surface condensing type, driving a single screw, and of 220 li.ji.. with a boiler pressure of 1201 b. The boiler is 10ft- by 10ft. and was constructed by tho Vauxiiall Ironworks, London. The engines are situated well aft, and tho engine room is large andi well ventilated. Provision has been made to install electric light throughout tho ship. There are trimming tanks fore and aft, which will carry about forty-five of water. Four winches have been installed on deck for the rapid handling of cargo. There is one long hold, with two immense trunk hatches, which will prove of great advantage in, carrying eon! and timber cargoes. There arc two masts, which will profiably carry fore and aft sails. ibo vessel will be able to carry about 450 tons of coal cargo. Tho crew's quarters arc situated forward. and aro roomy and comfortable. The captain’s and officers’ quarters are placed alt below the poop deck. They arc spacious and comfortable, as is also a. largo mess room for the use of the officers. Tho vessel’s funnel is painted black with a white band, the colors under which, the new company will trade. Altogether the Progress presents a tine appearance, and should prove a valuable addition to tho coastal fleet.

It is expected, that tho vessel will develop a speed) of seven and 1 , a-half knots at sea, The engines wore given a trial alongside tho wharf yesterday, and worked e.'itisi’aclorilv. The v»]iojo of tho work of installing the machinery and making improvement*) on board is nearly completed. The Progress will be placed in dry dock at Port Chalmers to-morrow to have her hull cleaned and painted. She will be employed currying coal from Greymouth to North Island ports. Tho vessel is owned by a Dunedin syndicate having large interests in a coal mine at Greymouth. ISlio will be under the command of Captain Naylor, formerly of the Union Company's service, while Mr Miller will bo in charge of tho engine room. It is expected that the Progress will leave next week for the West Coast to take up her new running. The vessel, which is of iron, was built at London in about 1882. Sho is o! 288 ions gross register, has a length of 129 ft. with a breadt li of 25ft Sin and a depth of 10ft Tin.