NEW COASTAL VESSEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 12

NEW COASTAL VESSEL.

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHING.

i SOUTH ISLAND-FOXTON TRADE

The new auxiliary schooner Foxton was launched from Mr. G. Niccol's yard, Freeman's Bay, shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon. The vessel has been built for the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, and it will bo employed in the trade between South Island ports and Foxton.

Tho launching occupied about threequarters of an hour, tho cold weather having hardened tho grease on the slipway. A timber to which the winch cable was attached broke, and caused some delay in coaxing the vessel into a smooth slide. Once over the first few feet the vessel slipped smoothly to tho water. Sho was towed to Central Wharf for the stepping of tho masts, and she should be ready for sea in about a fortnight. The Foxton is 110 ft. in length, and she has a 28-foot beam and a capacity of 325 tons, with a draught of 7ft. 6in. Twin Fairbanks-Morso Diesel engines of 100 nominal horse-power each aro fitted. There aro two Fairbanks-Morse oil-driven cargo winches, and electric light is installed, with special provision for cargo operations at night. A speed of about nine knots is expected.