SALE OF STEAMER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 7

SALE OF STEAMER

CARGO VESSEL WAITEMATA

PURCHASE FOR AUSTRALIA

Negotiations have almost been com. pleted for the sale of the Union Steam Ship Company's cargo steamer Waite* mat a , which has been laid up in Auckland Harbour for over two years, to a Melbourne firm of, shipowners. William Crosby and Company, Proprietary.? A representative of the Melbourne firm will arrive "fti Auckland by the Monowai on Tuesday morning to complete the transaction.

The Waitemata is not an old ship, as she was built at Newcastle, England, by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company in 1919. She is an oil-burning steamer of 5729 tons gross, and is 400 ft. long, with a breadth of 53ft. She carries about 9000 tons deadweight, her draught fnlly loaded being 26ft. On her trials she achieved a speed of overall knots.

The first service in which the "Waitemata was employed was in the Eastern trade, running from Calcutta to Australia and New Zealand, via Singapore and Penang. She was then transferred to the Pacific Coast service, loading at Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles for New Zealand and Australia. Owing to the slackness of trade, she was withdrawn from commission in August, 1930, when she was taken to an anchorage in the stream, where she has since remained. For some time the vessel has been open to an offer for purchase, as has a similar bnt older vessel, the Waitomo, which has also been laid up here. Negotiations for the purchase of the Waiteamata were commenced recently by Crosby and Company, an old-established firm owning a number of ships in Australia and with interests in the phosphate trade. It is likely that the Waitemata will be utilised in taking phosphates from the Pacific Islands to Australian ports, a service for which she is well suited.

Prior to leaving for Australia the Waitemata will require to be docked and undergo a thorough overhaul after two years of idleness. On completion of refitting she will be sent to Australia by the purchasers, who will probably provide an Australian crew for the purpose. During the past few years the Union Company has sold a number of steamers, nearly all to Eastern buyers. In August last year the Kamona and Kaituna v. r er® sold to Williamson and Company, shipowners, of Hongkong, a firm which also bought the Koromiko, Karon and Kittawa*. Other vessels sold by thti company since 1929 are the Whangape, Kaitangata, Kaiapoi and Kamo.