HOPPER DREDGE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1938, Page 6

HOPPER DREDGE

STORMY TASMAN CROSSING. SHIPS PUTS INTO WESTPORT. r WESTPORT. Aug. 29. After being held up for three dayo near Cape Farewell by a howling easterly gale, the small liopper dredge Kerimona, of 242 tons, .vhich is being- delivered to its purchaser, the Wellington Harbour Board, called in to Westport this evening to replenish its depleted bunkers. The dredge has bad varied experience since leaving Glasgow on March 13 and took II days to reach Westport from Newcastle. With the bunkers low Captain A. Adamson had hopes of reaching Greymoutli, as Westport was not mentioned on the chart issued at Newcastle. It was only by chance that a seaman, who had previously visited Westport, ’ mentioned that this port was only six miles off Cape Foulwind, an inaccessible point,. which' was marked on the chart. The captain, officers, and crew were thankful to touch land in New Zealand after the crossing, which they, regarded as by far the roughest of the whole voyage. Members of the crew paid tribute to the seamanship of Captain Adamson, and the . ship, which they stated, had proved an exceptionally seaworthy vessel. If .she liad ,not. been so; there were occasions when all would have beenlost. This was the second attempt by the Kerimoana to cross the Tasman. On the first occasion after encountering a wild gale after leaving Brisbane, the dredge was blown off its course and was forced to put into Newcastle for more bunkers after being IT days at sea.

Near Gibraltar the dredge was stopped by a Spanish ' war vessel hut was allowed to continue. Bad weather at different stages' of 1 the journey necessitated frequent calls for hunkers; At one time it ivas feared that 1 the vessel would capsize, and rough going in the Red Sea' and on the run from Sourabaya to the mainland of Australia caused a ’ change' of plaits for ports of call. For a short time the Kerimoana was" aground near the month of the Brisbane river. The drew of twelve includes a New Zealander and an Australian, who made the trip from Glasgow to conserve their financial resources. These men regarded the trip as a great experience, hut were doubtful whether they would undertake it under similar circumstances again. Five changes in the crew were uiade during the voyage through men signing off because of sickness or accident. The Kerimoana hears a close resemblance to the average coastal freighter. She is 104 feet long and her net tannage is 92. A Priestman crane and a

large hopper are the most important parts of her modern dredging equipment. Tllo best idea-of her great efecsiVen.ess as a dredge can be gained from knowledge that the sludge capacity is 40 tons less than the gross tonnage of 242 tons. It is. believed that’ the Kerimoana is the smallest vessel to have come to New Zealand from the United Kingdom under her own power. The dredge will probably leave for Welliiigtbn on Wednesday. A message from Sydney on August 15th, stated that, having been driven out of her course by. a cyclone, the Kerimoana put into Newcastle short of coal, water, and'stores. Her voyage had already taken five months. . She encountered storms almost all the way; was stopped once by a Spanish rebel, armed trawler, twice had to put sick members of the crew ashore, and sevral times was driven far out of her course.

An attempt to make a direct voyage from. Java to Townsville was frustrated when the coal supply ran short and the vessel called at Thursday Island.

The Kerimoana had left Brisbane 11 days previously for Wellington, and wa§ well on her way when cyclonic storms battered, her for several days and forced her to. make for Newcastle, where she arrived with her supplies almost exhausted.