TRADE WITH JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 3

TRADE WITH JAPAN

DIRECT SERVICE INAUGURATED SYDNEY MARU TO-MORROW When the Osaka Shosen Kaisha motor vessel Sydney Maru arrives at Dunedin to-morrow from Lyttelton, heralding the arrival of the first direct New Zealand service, she will have the blood-red l rising sun of Japan fluttering from her flagstaff aft. The voyage commenced at . Yokohama, the vessel later, calling at Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Moji, Raboul, and Noumea. By this direct trip the voyage occupies 18 days; as compared with 31 previously taken via Australia; On her return voyage she will call at Cebu, Manila, Hongkong,' and Shanghai, as well as all the Japanese ports. The- vessels will call monthly at the four main ports of New Zealand. _ ; The vessels engaged in the service are the sister ships of the Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne'Maru. These ships are of 5,423 gross tonnage, all of which have been built by the Yokohama Dock' Company and • were launched in 1930. They are 380 ft in length, with a beam of 64ft and a depth of 34ft, and capable of a speed exceeding 16 knots. They ar<3 fitted with 14 derricks, two capable of lifting 10 tons, eight at six toils, and four at three tons, and are also fitted with 12 winches. . The cargo ’capacity of uninsulated space, No, 1 hold, lower holds 30, 117 cubic feet; main T decks, 20,533 cubic feet; and upper T deck, 20,644 cubic feet. Hold No. 2, lower hold, 60,497 cubic feet; main T decks, 33,593 cubic feet; and upper T deck, 19,667 cubic feet. Hold No. 3, lower holds, 46,483 cubic feet; main T decks, 14,742 cubic feet; and upper T. deck, 24,093 cubic feet. Hold No. 4, lower ho.ds, 21,299 oubic feet; main T decks, 19,494 cubic feet; and upper T deck, 23,090 cubic feet The distances between hatches are: Stern to No. 1 62ft. centre No. 1 to No. 2.66 ft, centre No. 2 to No. 3 136 ft. centre No. 3 to No. 4 60ft, and No. 4 to stern 72ft. They have a silk room for soft goods of 71,364 cubic feet capacity, Kach boat has 200 tons gross insulated space. , . . The company, with a capital ot eight million pounds and a fleet of 228 vessels, being over 680,000 tons gross, is now conducting SO services forming important commercial highways of the world, the total length being more than 300,000 miles. The company was established in the

vear 1884 with a capital of only £BO,OOO and with a fleet of steamers having an , aggregate tonnage of only 17,000 tons. The total mileage covered by ite services was not, more than 85,000, being practically confined to the western half of the "Empire. During the 49 years that have followed its establishment the company has encountered 1 many difficulties, but by pursuing a steady and progressive policy it has overcome every obstacle, which is in itself an eloquent testimony to the remarkable development of. the water transport business in Japan. Osaka; Shosen Kaisha is not unjustifiably proud of the position it has attained. These, vessels are being replaced in the Australian and New Zealand service by the motor vessels Canberra and Tokyo Maru, of 7,4Ci0 tonnage, and being capable of a speed of 20 knots. Another direct service from Japan to New Zealand has been provided by the Yamashita Kisen Kaisha Company since last December. The steamers of the company come direct from Japan to New Zealand, but they generally return to Japan via Australia.