REPAIRS TO STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 12

REPAIRS TO STEAMER.

OVERSEAS CARGO VESSEL.

ONE OF LARGEST TO DOCK.

DAMAGE TO PROPELLER.

The docking of Uio Federal Lino steamer Cambridge in Auckland for repairs to her propeller was to havo been carried out yesterday morning, but has been postponed until to-morrow. Tho propeller was examined by a, diver yesterday. lie found that in addition to tho vvliolo blade being missing tho boss of the propeller is also damaged, but what repairs will be necessary will not be ascertained definitely until tho vessel is in dock.

Tho preparations for tho docking of the Cambridge havo had to bo carefully considered because of her size. She is practically tho samo size as the Royal Mail liner Niagara, tho largest vessel docked in Auckland. Tho Niagara's gross tonnage is more than that of the Cambridge, which has a greater depth, but tho Cambridge is Gin. less in tho beam than the Niagara. Tho following aro the dimensions of tho two vessels: — Niagara: 13,415 tons gross; length, 524.7 ft.; beam, G6.3ft. ,* depth, 34.5 ft. Cambridge: 10,850 tons gross; length, 524.5 ft.; beam, 05.7 ft.; depth, 37.3 ft. Difficulty in docking tho Cambridge is duo to the fact that her beam is slightly more than the width of the dock at tho level of tho blocks, which are 4ft. 6in. high. The width of the dock at tho block level is 65ft 7£in. Tho Niagara was clocked without difficulty because she is narrower in tho bilgo than the Cambridge. The longest vessel that has been docked in Auckland was the Federal Lino steamer Northumberland (11,555 tons) in February, 1927. Tho Northumberland is 530.5 ft. in length and tho dock had to bo lengthened by cutting away tho recess at tiio inner end before sho could bo docked.