LONG OCEAN TOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 10

LONG OCEAN TOW

SHIPS FOR JAPAN DEPARTURE TO-MORROW KOMATA AND KAIMANAWA After being in port for five days having bunker coal transferred from No. 2 hatch to the forward bunkers, the Japanese steamor Komata is to be removed from King's Wharf to tho streaijn at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, to prepare for her long voyage to Japan with the Kaimanawa in tow. The two steamers were sold by the Union Company to Japanese shipbreakers to bo converted into scrap metal. After being sold the Komata had her engine thoroughly overhauled at Wellington and other repair work was done to make the vessel seaworthy. The only work done to the Kaimanawa was the clearing of the vessel in dock to rid her of tho tons of marine growth which had accumulated on tho hull during the long period sho was idle.

The Komata is manned by a full crow of Japanese, but the Kaimanawa has on board a captain in charge with a small crew of deck hands, whose only duty will be to steer the vessel in tho wake of the Komata. As soon as the Komata is anchored in the stream the Kaimanawa will bo towed from the Western Viaduct and placed aloncsido her to allow the towing gear to be connected between the two vessels.

This gear will consist of a long hawser with one end made fast to the Komata's stern, the other end being shackled to tho end of one of the Kaimanawa's cables from which the anchor will be removed. When the connecting workhas been completed the long voyage will commence, the vessels sailing about 4 p.m. to-morrow. Until thev are Avell clear of the harbour only the hawser will be used for towing. As the vessels near the open sea the Kaimanawa will pay out the connected cable until the distance botween the two vessels has been increased sufficiently to allow the bight of the cable to act as a huge spring. This will prevent the towline from tightening when the vessels rise and fall in the rough seas which will be met i with.

Tf typhoons or other severe weather is experienced in the North Pacific it is the intention of the captain of the Komata to make for the Marshall Islands, where he will leave the Kailii an awa at a safe anchorage and then proceed alone to Japan. Later, when the storm season is over, he will return to the islands, which are nearly 2000 miles from Japan, and resume the tow.