FIRE ON THE KENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 September 1925, Page 5

FIRE ON THE KENT.

EXTENSIVE- DAMAGE CAUSED. FIERCE HEAT GENERATED. IHY TELEGRAPH- CHESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Sep. 4. The fire on board ,the sea-nier Kent is now oompleoely out. The Kent is being discharged, while the waiter is being pumped out. She sustained no damage to the hull. In addition -to- the 1500 tons of cargo in number two hold destroyed, water peaiet-rated two of the’ other in "Ids -to- a depth of nine feet, with the result that the cargo in these holds was also damaged. The total extent of the damage will not be known until a lull examination i.s made and all the- damaged cargo i-s discharged. The vessel’s future mo-ve-nuenbs are uncertain. .

Jl> is now plain that the fire was hottest right down in the lowest hold. Some cargo in the ’tween decks is practically untuiiolied. On the next deck lower, the fine must have been raging with almost melting heat, for some electrical machinery is burned to ui state of ruin, and the chassis of a big four or five ton motor bins looks like scrap iron, 7 though olio rubber wheeli-;, although broken off, escaped. It i« believed the worst damage will be found lowest in ,'bhe hold. Number two hold is divided from nu.miber.si one and three by iron bulkheads, which reach only to the top c.l‘ the ’tween decks ..section of the hold. The ■ shelter deck arid bridge deck sections extend’ without any bulkhead from the fore part of number one hold to the after part of number three. The large amount;, of water that was pumped into the hold lat the seat of the fire was thus enabled to find its way .into the lower ,portions of Nos. 1 and 3 hold's, and by the same route smoko and fumes from the lire forced their way into Nos. I and 3 holds, where tile cargo that, can be seen is greatly blackened. 'like fluid In the throe holds is a mixture of on It water, charcoal and other ingredients. The lower holds are all insulated for the carriage of frozen cargo and no doubt the water has. penetrated behind lh<' insulation, which will have lo be renewed. As. liar as could lie .seen by experts the hull of the Kent had nob suffered any damage. 'Phis can only lie conlilined, however, when a. chase inspection has been made after the cargo has been discharged. There was about 1 500. tens of cargo in No. 3 hold and about 700 tons at the bottom Was undo- water. No. 1 hatch was not opened so it is not known how much damage Ik'.s been clone there. On the aifter-cpart of No. 3 hatch thire is an iron bulkhead, which rearilies from the bottom of the vessel to the upper declc. This prevented any damage by smoke and writer in the engine- room, oil bunkers and Nos. 4 4licl o hatches aft.