HANDSOME VESSEL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12397, 9 November 1934, Page 5

HANDSOME VESSEL

SHAW, SAVILL COMPANY’S NEW MOTOR-SHIP.

WAIWHRA HUE AT GISBORNE

THIS MORNING.

The Shaw, Savill and Albion Co.’s new motor-ship, Waiwera, is duo at Gisborne this morning, from Bluff, on hoi’ maiden voyage from London.-She will load butter, meat and general cargo for London, and is expected to leave port to-morrow evening for Napier. She yvill complete loading at Auckland and’is due to leave ' that port for London on November 28. The Waiwera is universally conceded. to be one of the most- handsome vessels seen in New Zealand’ waters. When fully loaded she is capable of a speed of 16 knots, and she almost registered that figure at times on her way from London. She is named after the company’s 6237-ton steamer Waiwera, which was built in 1988, and engaged for many years carrying passengers and cargo for New Zealand when immigration was in full swing. . The voyage from London to the Dominion was uneventful and pleasant. The average speed from the. London docks to Port Chalmers was 15.55 lenots, and the actual time the ship was moving was 34 days 12 hours, while the actual time occupied on the voyage, including the stops at Colon and Suva, was 38 days 17 hours. The engines functioned without a hitch throughout.

FIRST OF THREE SHIPS. ..The Waiwera is the first of three niotor-ships ordered by the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, for the London-New Zealand trade. Sbe was launched from the north yard of Holland and Wolff, Belfast, on May 1, and is the first cruiser-stem ship built to the order of tlio Shaw, Savill and Albion-Co. Of 10,760 tons gross register, tlio Waiwera, which has a slightly raking stem, is a shelter-decker with three tiers of ’tween-decks, a forecastle and long bridge erection, and a small house aft, above which is the docking bridge. She has two slightlyraked pole masts, a squat streamlined funnel and four sets of derrick posts. The A-essel has six holds, of which Nos. 1 to 5 inclusive are insulated ; and each hatch is., adequately served by steel tubular derricks, those on the fore and main masts being capable of dealing with. 10-ton loads, and the remainder with seventon. Each derrick lias its own electric winch of the Lawrence Scott type.. On the foremast there is also a special derrick for heavy lifts up to 40 tons.

Built to Lloyd’s 100 A 1 class with freeboard, she. is of the following dimensions : Length (between perpendiculars), 515 feet; length (over all), 535 ft. Gin. ; beam (moulded), 70ft. depth (moulded) 43ft. 4-Jin. to upper deck.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS. The hull is divided by eight watertight.. bulkheads. The twin screws operate in front of a rudder of semibalanced streamlined type, with fotirram electric hydraulic steering gear. The double bottom is divided into tanks for fresh water, water ballast, and oil fuel, and the fore and aft peaks serve as ballast- tanks. • 1 lie double bottom structure is specially strengthened under the main and auxiliary machinery. Deep tanks for oil fuel are arranged at the forward end of the machineiy space and at sides of and between the tunnels, also in the double bottom under the engine room and in the way of forward cross bunkers. Those under Nos. 3 and 4 holds are also arranged for oil fuel if necessary, thus.ensuring for the ship a very large radius of operation without re-bunkering. A complete installation for dealing with fire by steam, water and C. 0.2 gas is arranged. Exceptional care lias been taken to provide for the comfort of the 12 passengers for whom, she has accommodation on the boat deck. With so much open deck space available one could scarcely imagine that she is a cargo vessel- The boat- deck runs for a considerable distance along the length of the . ship, and along tiie sides is clear and open. The bridge is equipped with all the latest appliances, including ,a sounding apparatus, which gives 30 soundings a minute. Situated behind the bridge proper the captain’s cabin is large and airy, panelled in mahogany, and comfortably furnished. Quarters for the navigating officers are above . tlio boat deck, the navigating bridge ,and chart house being at the fore end. The radio room is on the. boat cleck at the after end. There is an extra large galley, with scullery, bakery, and butchers shop.

COMMODIOUS STATEROOMS. Beneath the bout deck are the passengers’ staterooms, dining saloon, lounge, and officers’ cabins. This deck, with, its /housing accommodation, extends right down to the well deck, and also provides accommodation for engineers and stewards, etc. This gives a .long promenade, deck, and ample lee side in cold or windy weather. There are available for the passengers two. dek-golf courses* one tennis court and a swimming bath. In the staterooms there are beds instead of the old-style bunks. lloi, and cold water is provided in each room. Some of the staterooms arc situated under the bridge, and the two .windows, with which they aye provided look' out toward the bow of the vessel. The Waiwera is under command of CJaptain J. H. Gaskell.