NEW NAVAL SHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23994, 18 June 1941, Page 6

NEW NAVAL SHIPS

FOUR MINESWEEPERS BUILDING IN DOMINION PORT CHALMERS YARDS [by TELEGitArn —nu'.ss association] WELLINGTON*, Tuesday The Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. I). G. Sullivan, advises that a contract has been placed with Stevenson and Cook in association with several other Duncdin firms for the building of four minesweepers. These arc being built to plans which ha\c been supplied by the British Admiralty. During his visit to Australia some months ago, Mr. Sullivan stated that proposals had been submitted to various Australian manufacturers, and arrangements hud now been satisfactorily completed which would ensure a supply of . the necessary materials. _ J "Port Chalmers offers an ideal location for work of this nature," continued the Minister. "Apart altogether from the fact that there is an excellent site adjacent to the wharves, ship repair work has been carried out for many years by Stevenson and Cook, whose engineering shops are specially equipped to handle such work. "Tenders are being invited within the next few days for the erection of certain necessary shops, gantries and slipways, and it is anticipated that these will bo erected ready to commence operations as soon as the first material arrives from Australia. This will be in about eight weeks' time." The question of a labour shortage was one that must of necessity be recognised. but Mr. Sullivan was confident it could be overcome. In New Zealand to-day there were a large number of retired engineers, many of whom had had actual experience in shipbuilding. It was felt that many of these retired engineers would respond. IMMEDIATE START THAMES FIRM'S PART | CONSTRUCTION OF ENGINES (0.C.) DUNE DIN, Tuesday No time will bo lost in commencing the work of constructing large, modern shipyards at Port Chalmers, and a man prominently identified with the enterprise said to-day that the first steps in the building programme would be taken this week. Messrs. Stevenson and Cook, in conjunction with several other firms, including Messrs. A. and G. Price, Limited, of Thames, will bo responsible for the building of the four vessels within 12 months. Two slipways will be built and the first two mine-sweepers will be launched in January of next year, five months after the keels are laid. The ships, which will be of the Castle type, with a length of 130 ft.., will then be fitted for service, and if is expected that they I will be commissioned three months after I launching. As soon as the first pair is ! off the slips the keels of the third and fourth vessels will be laid. "The shipyards themselves will be of modern type, with workshops under cover, and the latest equipment, in- ' eluding electric and travelling cranes, will be installed. All the materials for i the hulls and boilers will bo obtained | from Broken Hill, and the contracts ! call for the delivery of the necessary J steel within 14. weeks, i The first of the buildings at Port ! Chalmers will be ready in eight weeks, ' when the keels of the first two ships j will be laid. In addition to the hulls, | the boilers will also be made at Port ; Chalmers. ! The engines will be constructed at i Thames by Messrs. Price, in con- | junction with Messrs. John McGregoi i and Son, Dtniedin. The electrical work and plumbing will be undertaken by Messrs. A. and T. Burt, and other equipment by the Dunedin Engineering Company.