OIL TANKER ARRIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20156, 21 July 1927, Page 13

OIL TANKER ARRIVES.

0. A. KNUDSEN’S ROUGH PASSAGE. DELAYED BY STORMS. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, July 20After an exceedingly rough voyage, the 9026-ton oil tanker O. A. Knudsen -arrived on her third visit to .Wellington yesterday. On leaving San Luis oh June 19, fair weather was encountered until July 8, when a heavy rainstorm heralded a cyclonic gale from the south-east. The fury of the g-ale increased, and mountainous seas broke at a height sometimes greater than the vessel’s funnel. Thousands of tons ot crashing waters continually pounded the low decks of the tanker, giving her the appearance of a gigantic submarine. Although the chip was heavily laden with 11,450 tons of crude oil, the propellers frequently rose clear of the water, and the powerful Diesel engines raced madly. Considerable anxiety was felt owing to the danger of the bridge, which carries the steam pipes across the main decks, being _ swept away. The bridge, however, withstood the tremendous strain, but a portion of the steel was buckled.

The ship’s speed had to be reduced, and this delayed her arrival at Wellington for five days. ' The 0. A. Knudsen is one of the largest oil tankers to visit Wellington, and has a very striking’ appearance. A sweeping deck, broken only by the bridge, a squat funnel'aft, and a cruiser stem, contribute to her pleasing lines. She was built in 1925 in Glasgow for a Norwegian firm, and the officers and most of the crew ore natives of Norway.