LINER STRATHAIRD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 6

LINER STRATHAIRD.

DIFFICULTY IN BERTHING. DELAY AT AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. The delicate task of berthing the Strathaird (22,284 tons), the largest passenger vessel to visit Auckland, occupied two hours this afternoon, imposin'' on the passengers anxious to make the fullest use of their restricted period in port a vexatious wait, and evoking from some of them ironical cheers as the liner at last drew alongside the wharf. The expert opinion was later expressed that the protracted incident emphasised the necessity for at least two tugs being available to assist in the berthing of large vessels; the Auckland Harbour Board has only one tug. There was never any question about the depth of water being sufficient. Three times the vessel approached the wharf and attempts to berth her stern first failed on each occasion. Once it appeared likely that the vessel’s stern would bump against the wharf, but she was checked in time and swung past the end. Little difficulty was encountered when it was decided to berth the vessel in the ordinary way. She proceeded head in to the basin and dropped her port anchor; then, with the aid of the tug and mooring lines run out from the starboard side to the wharf, the liner was slowly edged into the wharf, coming alongside without causing a tremor. Four tugs are customarily used in Sydney for handling vessels of the Strathaird’s size.

The Strathaird, the largest passenger vessel to visit Auckland, arrived from Brisbane on a tourist cruise with 800 passengers. The liner leaves tomorrow night for Wellington, leaving Wellington on Monday night for Australia. Most of the passengers will visit Rotorua and other North Island tourist resorts, rejoining the vessel at Wellington.