BOILERS STILL LEAKING

Evening Star, Issue 18628, 8 May 1924, Page 6

BOILERS STILL LEAKING

DURHAM AT RIVER PLATE. A cablegram received by (lie Sydney Marine Underwriters and Salvage Association on April 28 stated that the Federal Line steamer Durham had arrived at the River Plate with her boilers still leaking. The Durham, a vessel of 6,975 tons, is bound from Sydney via 'Newcastle and Port Chalmers, to Antwerp and Hamburg. She loaded n quantity of cargo, including lead and spelter, at (Sydney, and left that port on March 16 to complete her loading at Montevideo. A course was sot to clear Stewart Islam! on her way to Cape Horn. On Hie night of Monday, March 17, Hie boilers began to develop leakage. There followed an anxious time, with strenuous work and long watches for the engine room staff. The vessel has three main boilers. Only one of them could be attended to at a time j hence reduced steam meant slower steaming. A big marine boiler lakes some time to cool down after the fire? are drawn. In this case, however, an element of urgency was recognised, and the furnaces were far from cold when engineers made personal investigation inside. Tubes and boiler stays were accorded practical attention. As one boiler was restored to normal action, tho next ono was tackled. It was gruelling work, but success attended the practical application of experienced engineering skill. The day before tho Durham made Otago Harbor tho boilers were back to norma] working order; but ahead civ a long and little-frequented run across the Southern Ocean to Ca.no Horn. It was decided to put tho odds on tho side of safety, especially in view of the fact that first-class fillip-repairing works were only ft day’s run distant. The steamer was headed for Port Chalmers, whore rim arrived on the evening of March 21. Engineering and boilermaking exports from the Union Steam Ship Company's marine repair works at Port Chalmers boarded the Durham immediately after her arrival. The boilers worn thoroughly overhauled and repaired, ?.nd the vessel resumed her voyage on the morning of March 27.