NEW TRAWLER FOR BLUFF

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 6

NEW TRAWLER FOR BLUFF

Special Design \For Oystering \ CONSTRUCTION TO\ BEGIN SOON (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, November 30. The construction of the first trawler specifically designed for oyster dredging in the Foveaux Strait beds is to be undertaken soon at Auckland at the yards of Shipbuilders Ltd. A singlescrew steamer 70ft overall, the trawler will operate out of Bluff for Stewart Island Canneries Ltd. This company has already one vessel under its flag. The large oyster fleet working out of Bluff is confined entirely to converted fishing or coastal vessels most of which were formerly well known at Auckland. Their design, however, is not perfectly adapted to the particular demands of oyster dredging and the construction of the new trawler, which will be named Ozone, will mark the beginning of a new era in the southern industry. Designed to withstand severe testing by all weather during operation in stormy Foveaux Strait, the new vessel will be of composite construction. She will be powered by the steam engines of the old passenger vessel, Omana, formerly owned by the Northern Steamship Company. The Omana which was built at Auckland in 1914 has seen many years of service in Hauraki Gulf but her engines are considered as good as new and the boilers have still their original thickness. SPEED OF EIGHT KNOTS It is expected the trawler will be driven at a speed of eight knots. The trawler will have a beam of 17ft and this will allow particularly generous deck space for the sorting bins fore and aft into which the oysters will be placed. The provision of accommodation for the ship’s complement has yet to be arranged but as the oyster fleet works only in daylight hours, leaving Bluff at 2 a.m. and returning about 3 p.m., this is not regarded as of major importance. It is expected the new vessel will be completed in five or six months. She will make the voyage to Bluff under her own steam.