Rangatira Moat Again

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 7

Rangatira Moat Again

LARGEST JOB OF ITS KIND. One of the biggest ship-repairing tasks ever tackled in New Zealand was brought to a successful conclusion yesterday afternoon when tho inter-island express steamer Rangatira was taken oil the Jubilee Floating Dock with her hull, which was badly damaged when tht vessel struck a rock on February 2, as sound and strong as the day she was launched.

For well over tbreo months the Rangatira has been on the dock while a legion of workmen has been employed straightening and renewing the torn and broken plates of her hull. Now, with tho last of the new plates riveted into position, her keel straightened, and her frames iu truo alignment, I he Rangatira has been thoroughly and permanently repaired. Tens of thousands of rivets, weighing several tons, have been used to fasten the plates. The bow rudder was placed in position several days ago, its removal having been necessary owing to the twisting of the stem girder. Access to this girder would have been hampered with the rudder in position, and also it was discovered that tho rounded plate behind the rudder had been damaged and needed attention.

The hardest part of the work, and that which reflects the most credit on those who carried out the job, was tho renewal of a large section of the centre girder of the keel, a great piece of steelwork some three feet in depth, which was badly bent, and was not resting on tho floor chocks when the vessel was docked. In spito of the cramped conditions this formidable obstacle wa3 satisfactorily overcome, and a considerable section of the keel was completely renewed. Many problems have had to be faced by the engineers in charge of the re. pairs, but all have been surmounted, and the re-conditioning of the vessel must remain an example of the efficiency of local skill, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. Tho Rangatira is to remain at Wellington for some weeks wliilo internal overhauling and re-fitting will be done prior to her resuming her running in the Wcllington-Lyttelton service.