DELAY IN BERTHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21966, 24 November 1934, Page 15

DELAY IN BERTHING

THE LINER STRATHAIRD TWO HOURS' MANOEUVRING ONLY ONE TUG AVAILABLE The delicate task of berthing the P. and 0. liner Strathaird, the largest passenger vessel to visit Auckland, occupied two hours yesterday afternoon, imposing on passengers anxious to make the fullest use of their; restricted period in port a vexatious wait. An expert opinion was later expressed that the protracted incident emphasised the necessity for at least two tugs being available to assist in the berthing of large vessels. The Auckland Harbour Board has only one tug, the Te Awbina. A contributing cause to the delay was the fact that the Strathaird has in-turning propellers, which, it was stated, made it more difficult to manoeuvre the liner into position for berthing. There was never nnv question about the depth of .vate r - The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, boarded the Strathaird near Tiritiri, and the large vessel, a magnificent spectacle as she came slowly up the harbour with the afternoon sunlight playing on her white-painted hull and superstructure, was off the end of Prince's Wharf by 2.15. The plan to berth the vessel stern first to expedite her departure for Wellington tonight was explained to the commander, Captain E. A. J. W. Carter,by the harbourmaster, and the arrangement was approved. Propellers' Twisting Power

The Strathaird passed close by the end of Queen's Wharf, giving to the large crowd gathered there an excellent opportunity to observe her splendid proportions and graceful lines. Presently the anchor was dropped, steadying the liner off the end "f Prince's Wharf. With the assistance of the Te Awhina an endeavour was then made to manoeuvre the vessel in the basin between Prince's Wharf and Queen's Wharf with the intention of berthing her stern first on the eastern side of Prince's Wharf —the berth occupied in 1924 by H.M.S. Hood, the 41,200-ton battleship, the largest vessel which has visited the port.

Having beeu stopped in the tideway, with the tide flowing in and a slight wind to contend with, the Strathaird did not respond readily to the tug's efforts, while the vessel's inturning propellers gave little assistance, their twisting power being estimated at less than that of un ordinary single-screw. Three times the vessel approached the wharf and the attempts to berth her stern first failed on each occasion.

Little difficulty was encountere.fl when it was decided to berth the vessel in the ordinary way. She proceeded head in to the basin, and dropped her port anchor. Then, with the aid of the tug «and mooring line* run out from the starboard side to the wharf, the liner was slowly edged into the wharf, coming alongside without causing a tremor. It was then just after 4 o'clock. Avoiding Delays The medical and customs inspections were made expeditiously after the liner had berthed, and shortly after 4.30 streams of passengers poured fourth from the vessel to join taxicabs and buses and begin a belated tour of the city and suburbs before dusk.

Neither the harbour-master nor tho commander of the Straithaird was willing to discuss the berthing difficulty, but it was learned that the possibility of avoiding such delays in the future, especially in view of the fact that other large tourist liners will be visiting Auckland this summer, will be the subject of discussions between representatives of the shipping company and the harbour board. Four tugs are customarily used in Sydney for handling vessels of the Strathaird's size. The opinion was expressed yesterday that at least another tug, more powerful than the Te Awhina, is required in Auckland for assisting in the berthing of the larger liners visiting the port.