LONG TOW COMMENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22006, 12 January 1935, Page 12

LONG TOW COMMENCES

• AUCKLAND TO JAPAN OLD SHIPS' LAST VOYAGE SLOW PROGRESS AT START j, The longest tow undertaken from New Zealand commenced last night, when the former Union Company steamers Komata and Kaimanawa left for Japan, the Komata towing tho Kaimanawa. Both vessels have been sold to Japanese shipbreakers. The Komata was taken from King's Wharf into the stream yesterday morning, and after she had anchored tho Kaimanawa was placed alongside to have the towing gear connected between the two vessels. Owing to the exceptionally long voyage and the prospect of meeting with severe stormy weather in the North Pacific Ocean, exceptionally heavy gear is being used for towing. When clear of the Hauraki Gulf and in the open sea the two vessels will be over 800 ft. apart, connected with over twice that length of towing gear. Two s£in. wire hawsers, each 90 fathoms in length, have been attached to the stern of the Komata, and these hawsers are shackled to tho. Kaimanawa's anchor cables. After the vessels reach open water tho Kaimanawa will pay out about 60 fathoms of each cable and the towing equipment will then weigh many tons. The work of rigging the towing gear was very difficult owing to the heavy material being used, and it was late in tho afternoon before operations were completed. The tow was commenced at 8 o'clock last night. Very slow progress was made at first, and it was an hour later before the vessels had rounded North Head.