NEW CARGO STEAMER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 3

NEW CARGO STEAMER.

ARRIVAL OF THE KARTIGI. LATEST TYPE OF FREIGHTER. An arrival at Dunedin late yesterday afternoon was the Union Company's new cargo steamer Kartigi, from Montreal, via Panama, Auckland, Wellington, Picton, and Lyttelton. She is on her maiden voyage. The Kartigi, which is he latest addition to the Union Oomp 's fleet of cargo steamers, was built by t». srs William Gray and Co. (Ltd.), of West'-, Lirtlepool. She ran very successful trials in Hartlepool Bay, and took her departure for Sydney (C.E.) on August 2. After an uneventful voyage she arrived at her destination on August 13 and commenced loading her present general cargo. She left (Sydney for Montreal on September 17, aind completed her cargo at the last-named port. On August 23 she took her final departure and arrived at Colon on September 5. Transit through Panama Canal was obtained the snme day, and on the morning of September 6 the Kartigi resumed her voyago to Auckland. She arrived at the northern port on October 5. 'Hio Kartigi is one of the latest types of cargo steamers, and she differs considerably in construction from the older vessels. The chief characteristic noticeable is the up-to-date equipment for the rapid handling of cargo. The engines are aft, and on the forepart are five hatchways through which the cargo is loaded into two large holds specially roomy for the carriage of long timber. Besides tho usual water ballast tanks in the double bottom of tho vessel, longitudinal ballast tanks are fitted in the wings under the main deck. These tanks are triangular, and their sloping sidas minimise the labour of trimming the hold when it is loaded with coal. The longitudinal tanks, being well above the keel, help tho stability of the vessel when she is in ballast trim. An innovation arc the corrugated steel hatch covers, which have supplanted the usual wooden hatches. The steel covers fit over the hatches like a lid on a box, and they are lifted open by means of steel purchases led from iron standards. Similar hatch covers are installed on the new steamer Waipahi. which arrived at Port Chalmers on October 12 from Newcastle-on-Tyne. The winches are on platforms well above the dock, and there are two for each hatch. The cargo is lifted by 10 stoop derricks and tho coal bv 10 gaffs. The bridge is amidships above the saloon, which contains the officers' quarters. The sailors are accommodated forward and the firemen aft. The sailors and firemen's quarters are fitted with a bathroom supplied with unlimited hot and cold water. The Kartigi is steered by the latest tyne of tele-motor with the - engine fitted on the quadrant. ' Should "it break down the vessel can b" steered by means of wire pulleys connected with the mooring winch aft. The speed of tbo voyage averaged 9.5 knots and from Panama to Auckland 9.57 knots. The 'best day's run was 270 miles, the average for 24 hours being 11.18 knots. With the exception of the chief engineer, all the officers have only just joined tho Union Company. The vessel is built on the top side cantilever frame system, and is of the followincr dimensions:—Length overall, 292 ft 6in - % breadth, 44ft 3in • denth, 21ft liin; with poop, bridge, winch desks, and forecastle, and is «elf-trimming. The double bottom topside tanks and largo after and forepeaks are constructed for the carriage of wafer ballast. The ship and maehinerv have been built under the superintendence of Mr W. T. Tucker (the owners' resident superintendent engineer), and Mr D. Boyd, of Messrs William Esplen, Son, and Swainston (Ltd.). London, who were both present on the trial. The Kartigi came from Montreal under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Company. On completion of discharge she /will bo re-conditioned at Port Chalmers, after which she will lie employed in one of the cargo services by her owners.