FLOATING CRANE’S VOYAGE.
ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. VS ELLINGTON, December 21. When the Wellington Harbour Board’s new floating crane the Hikitia dropped anchor in the .stream at Wellington early this morning from Scotland she successfully completed a voyage that may be described «as unique in the annals of maritime history. The Hikitia jnade the trip from the Old Country with her jib, or, in other words, the crane arrived erected op tho steamer ready for use. and when tho length of the voyage is taken into consideration. with the weight of the crane, it is stated that the trip of the Hikitia has no precedent. The new crane can take a weight of 80 tons and in fact, has lifted a greater weight than this, for at tho tests she lifted 100 tons. The voyage of the Hikitia was very favourable. The total steaming time was 77 days compared with 35 days, the average steaming time of the mail steamer. Generally speaking, she had fine weather till she approached the New Zealand coast. The voyage from Papeete to Wellington occupied 17 days, and it \>as on this portion of the trip that the worst weather was encountered. On December 13. bad weather necessitated the steamer hoving to. Approaching Wellington a heavy wind was encountered, especially off Cape Palliser. The vessel is in charge of Captain J. Fullerton, who brought the Muritai and the Inaha to Wellington from Montrose. Captain Fullerton said that the ship did not roll much, and it was his opinion that with the jib down she would have rolled to a greater extent. On the voyage the crane and superstructure were held bv 10 guvs to prevent swirling in the seas. The Hikitia is similar to the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s floating crane, the Rapaki. which arrived some four months ago. In the case of the Rapaki. however, the voyage was made with the jib dismantled, and secured t.o the deck. The Rapaki met bad weather, and had to put, in at Wo ini ro Bay. East. Coast, for food and coal. Her jib was erected at J -ytte'ton.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19261228.2.21
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 3798, 28 December 1926, Page 7
Word Count
350FLOATING CRANE’S VOYAGE. Otago Witness, Issue 3798, 28 December 1926, Page 7
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