THE WAIWERA

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 3

THE WAIWERA

NEW MOTOR SHIP A graceful vessel. By adding the Waiwera, which arrived at Bluff yesterday, to its fleet ot cargo-cum-passenger ships the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company has enhanced the prestige of the British mercantile marine. It has added to those ships which fly the Red Ensign not only what is truly the last word m marine architecture, but also a vessel which for comfort and luxury—and above all things safety—will challenge the crack cargo-carriers of the world. The Waiwera came to New Zealand on her maiden voyage via Colon, Panama Canal and Suva. Her first Dorninion port, was Port Chalmers from where she proceeded to Lyttelton ana New Plymouth. From Bluff the vessel goes to Gisborne, Napier, Wellington and Auckland, sailing finally for London, via Panama, on November 28. Captain J. H. Gaskell, R.D., R.N.R., who is in command of the new ship, was until recently captain of the Mataroa —the cabin-class vessel maintained by the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company in the New Zealand-United Kingdom service. Mr L. F. P. Serge is the chief engineer. Messrs Harland and Wolff, Belfast, who have built most of the White Star Line ships, constructed the Waiwera. She was launched on May 1, the ceremony being attended by a distinguished company of those interested in maintaining the volume of British shipping on the trade routes of the world. The Waiwera, along with her sister ships, Waipawa and Wairangi, now under construction, will undoubtedly serve as a model for many years to come. Thoroughly Modern.

The new liner has been built under the survey of Lloyd’s and the Board of Trade, and is thoroughly modern in all respects, not merely in regard to propelling machinery, but also in external appearance, as well as in the equipment and furnishing of her limited passenger accommodation. Her lines are extremely graceful, with a slightly raking stem, cruiser stern, one low broadtype funnel and two slightly raked pole masts. The length of the Waiwera over all is 535 ft. 6in., the breadth, moulded, 70ft.; the depth, moulded, 43ft. 44in. to upper deck; and the gross tonnage, 10,760. The vessel is of the shelter deck type, with three tiers of ’tween decks, a forecastle, and long bridge erection, and a small house aft above which is the docking bridge. Of the vessel’s six holds Nos. 1 to 5 inclusive are insulated. Each hatch is equipped with steel tubular derricks. It is interesting to note that each derrick has its own electric winch of the Lawrence Scott type. Her hull is divided by eight water-tight bulkheads, and there is a continuous double-bot-tom arranged to carry fresh water, water ballast and oil fuel.

Special arrangements have been made in certain of the spaces for the carriage of chilled meat—a trade which possesses untold possibilities. Messrs J. and E. Hall, Ltd., of Dartford, designed and built the ship’s refrigerating plant which consists of three horizontal enclosed high-speed twin compresser refrigerating machines. Passenger Accommodation. From the 12 passengers’ viewpoint the Waiwera combines the luxuries of a West End hotel, the privacy of a Mayfair mansion and the service of a modem flat, with all the allurements of a seaside resort. For sun-bathers nnd promenaders there is a swimmingpool and ample deck-space; for golfers there are two deck-golf courses; and for tennis enthusiasts there is an excellent court. And all these allurements may be enjoyed for a modest figure. The Waiwera represents the golden age of travel at silver prices. After inspecting the ship from stem to stem a Southland Times reporter was left wondering how it was possible to incorporate spacious public rooms and at the same time so • much deck space. For the deck space of the Waiwera is frankly remarkable. It is indeed difficult to imagine that the ship’s principal mission is to carry cargo. The dining-room displays an agreeable colour scheme incorporating maple and rosewood panelling, with softly diffused lighting. Adjoining is the smoke-room —very completely furnished and panelled in oak. The state-rooms are cheerful apartments fitted with beds and hot and cold running water. Fittings and furnishings are in keeping with the general surroundings, and will please the most fastidious tourist. The rooms situated under the bridge possess two windows which look out towards the bow of the vessel. From here one gets a vision of the sea just like that which can be seen from a big bay-view hotel on the coast. Propelling Machinery. The Waiwera will be popular with passengers, apart from her luxury, because she is oil-driven, and therefore clean; because her machinery, being compact, is an unobstrusive part of her total make-up. Beyond a steady pulsation, the passenger in a motor ship is unaware of the presence of the machinery. The whine of turbine gear is absent and the heat of the gases from oil-burning boilers is non-existent. Twin screws drive the ship at 16 knots, and each screw is driven by a 10-cylinder four-cycle single-acting crosshead type airless injection Diesel engine of the Harland B. and W. type. In every sense of the word these are internal combustion engines, except for the fact that details such as sparking plugs and carburetters are eliminated. The explosion which drives the pistons up and down is caused by the firing of a minute quantity of vaporized oil which receives the necessary “heat” to flash it off from the compression of a volume of air between the top of the piston and the underside of the top of the cylinder. Another interesting point is that the ship actually has selfstarters, which in this case consists of compressed air. Big internal combustion engines are fitted to drive the generator sets.