SHIPPING NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 8

SHIPPING NOTES.

PANAMA MAIL SERVICE. THE DAMAGED MATATUA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May I. Unloading- operations have been going on steadily. since the damaged Matatua was brought up to the docks from the scene ot tlie collision with the American Merchant. All undamaged cargo was transferred to the Mahia, which left on her outward voyage yesterday. Naturally, all the contents of No. 1 hold, which was opened to the water, were destroyed, and a certain amount ox cargo in No. 2 hold was injured owing- to the water getting over the top of the bulkhead. The contents of the other three holds, however, were intact. Now that unloading operations are complete, the repair of the Matatua will be proceeded with. It is interesting to note that the United States Government did not raise the defence in the recent court case that the American Merchant was State-owned and consequently it was not legal to proceed against her owners for damages. It is evident that the American Government realise that to press their full legal rights in such a case is not politic, and would lead to a loss of business. In the first place, merchants would not p e found to ship their goods if the owners disclaimed liability of any kind, nor would underwriters be found to cover the insurance. Though lire .American Government hare not" made any specific statement that they will not take advantage of the law regarding the immunity of Slate-owned vessels, in this matter it seems that they intend to fall into line with Australia and Canada. Damages to be paid into court by the owners of the American Merchant amount to £8 per ton of the cargo the vessel carried. In addition to this, the owners’ maximum liability in respect of loss of life is 17 per ten on the cargo. Relatives of those killed in the collision are commencing proceedings to recover damages. MAIL TENDERS. Recently the New Zealand Government called for tenders in this country for subsidised mail services from New Zealand, to Vancouver and San Francisco respectively. In addition they required tenders for a monthly service, and aa an alternative a fortnightly service, by way of Panama.. This journey .was to be covered ijQ 30 days. Tenders close at the end of this month, but it is safe to say that no shipping companies will find it possible to enter into an agreement with the Government on the lines laid down. As it is necessary to spend two days at Central American ports, the distance would actually have to be covered in 28 days, which would necessitate a speed of 17 knots an hour all the way. This would mean a consumption of 180 to 300 tons of coal a day as compared with a little over a hundred tons at present used for a 36 days’ cruise. It is apparent, therefore, that the Dominion Government would not be prepared to pay- the huge’ extra cost of coaling which would be entailed by this speeding-up process, and certainly the shipping companies are not in a position to make this expensive race across the oceans while trade is as it is. This is the opinion expressed by those responsible for maintaining the present Panama services to and from New Zealand. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. As a matter of fact, the method of propulsion on overseas vessels is now in a slate of transit.on, and companies are holding up building operations. It is evident, that steam will be relatively obsolete in a few years, but the internal combustion engine is undergoing such rapid development that it would be unwise to lay down any large building scheme with the present types ol engine. Even in the last few months a double-action Diesel engine has been developed. In this it appears the explosion takes place on both sides of the piston. Other improvements are sure to follow, and shipping companies are naturally following a waiting policy before attempting to replace their fleets with larger and faster vessels. IDLE TONNAGE. Statistics prepared by the Chamber of Shipping of the amount of British and foreign tonnage laid up idle at the principal ports of Great Britain and Ireland show a distinct improvement. The total number of such vessels so laki up on April 1 last was 255, of 4111,365 tons net, as compared with 317, of 629,763 tons, on January 1 Jast, showing a reduction in the tonnage of about 25 per cent. For April lof Last year the corresponding figures were -321 vessels, of 546,555 tons. The centres showing the largest decreases wore Cardiff, Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Truro, Hull, Liverpool, Newcastle. Garelorh, and Glasgow, and Belfast and Dublin. On the other hand, more vessels are' reported as being laid up in London and Manchester. The total for. the Scottish ports has declined from 104,720 tons net on January 1 last to 46,681 tons net on April 1, owing, chiefly to a fall of about 55,000 tons at Glasgow. THE NEW MINNETONKA. Taking British ships alone, the number laid up idle on April 1 last was 241, of 391,337 tons, as compared with 301, of 605,585 tons, on January 1. To a considerable extent the improvement in the figures for April 1 lest will have been due, primarily, to the demand for tonnage in the trans-Pacific trade at the end of last year, which, although xt has since proved disappointing, meant that vessels previously laid up were given employment in far-distant waters. Thus the supply of tonnage available to meet the recent much-improvod demand in the Argentine grain trade was substantially reduced. _ The largest vessel launched from a British yard this year is the Minnetonka, of the Atlantic Transport Line, which arrived in London this week. She has been built at Belfast by Messrs Ha.rla-nd and AVolff, and is intended for the luxury trade across the Atlantic. She is a splendid first-class passenger boat of 21,998 tons, with a length of 625 ft and a beam of 89ft, and a capacity of more than a million cubic feet, or 211,000 tons, which probably makes her one of the largest cargo carriers in the world. The new vessel has a straight stem and cruiser stern, aud is a finely-modelled steamer. The double bottom extends right fore and aft and there are 14 watertight bulkheads dividing the vessel into 15 water-tight coranartments. Accommodation of a luxurious kind has been provided for 368 first-class nassengers, arranged on the promenade shelter and upper decks. Suites with private sittingrooms and private baths are provided, the state rooms*have beds in place of bertha and electric heaters and electric lighted wardrolKS are features to be noted. The master of the new liner is Capiai’ - Thomas F. Gatos, who has the distinction of being the senior passenger captain of the North Atlantic, in noint of continuous command. He was chief efificer of the Missouri in 1887, and was in charge of her boats when they effected the rescue of more than 700 people from the sinking emigrant slur Denmark, in mid-Atlantic in rough weather He won his C.B.E. by war service in tinold Minnewaska, which was mined off Crete in 1918 while carrying 1800 troops.