THE IDLE FLEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21521, 19 June 1933, Page 6

THE IDLE FLEET

LONELY WATCHMEN STAYING RAVAGES OF RUST k ' INSPECTION OF ENGINES s So accustomed has the public become to the Bight of idle shipping laid up year after year off Hobson Bay that when smoke is seen issuing from their funnels people can be forgiven if, their thoughts rush excitedly to rumours of a trade revival and they spread the story that the idle ships are about to put to sea. But the truth is that, far from being recommissioned, the ships' engines are merely undergoing a periodical examination to prepare them for a further stretch of idleness. Looking q,t the silent ships in the harbour, swinging idly at their anchors and not a sign of life on board them, the landsman might be forgiven for ' thinking them deserted to a rusty fate. He has only to scramble on board them, however, to find his mistake. Each ship is under the continuous care of a watchman, "who" will refuse admission to anyone not possessing a permit from the vessel's owners, and who, in spite of his seemingly inactive occupation, has a multitude of duties to pc'< n-on, keeping him busy from daybreak until night. The Watchman's Duties Every day except Fridays, when a launch calls to take them to the city, and Sundays, which is a lonely day of rest, the watchmen of such well-remem-bered steamers as the Tofua, of Island passenger trade fame, and the cargocarriers Kaimanawa, Kaitoke and Waiotapu go about their daily round of duties—painting, polishing, cleaning—staying the ravages, of rust and decay which, without their attendance, would proceed apace.!/. Every morning the doors of the cabins and saloons of the Tofua are thrown open to admit fresh air and each night the riding lights are put out. In stormy weather mooring cables have to be constantly watched and care has to be taken lest the vessels drag their anchors. Only on calm nights, when all is quiet, save the lapping of the waters against the hull as the tide slips out, can the lonely watchman relax his watchfulness and devote his whole attention to his wireless and his books. • Starting the Fires Every three or four months the fleet of idle ships is visited by a party of engineers to, inspect the machinery. To prevent the engines seizing on account of long disuse, the fires are started in the boilers and the turning engine is brought into use to give a few revolutions to the big engines. So, also, the pumps and winches are operated to remove all'traces of rust and ensure their proper working condition. Attention is also given to the bilges, which are inclined to fill up with rain water, and the surplus water is pumped out before the party? returns to shore. It usually takes two days to attend to each ship, the fires being started when the party arrives, banked that night, and the engines run slowly when the party returns to the ship next day. All the idle ships are seaworthy and but. for the collection of mussels below water-line, amounting to 40 or 50 tons on each ship, and the necessity for compl3*ing with the regulations regarding survey, they could all put to sea within 24 hours if the necessity should arise. Some pf them have recently rejoined the traffic of the seas, only under Chmbsg instead of British ownership. Ihe remainder, of which the Kaimanawa has been there the longest, having joined the idle fleet in September, 1931, await the revival of world trade that Till once more demand their services.