OIL TANKS COVER BIG AREA AT LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 1

OIL TANKS COVER BIG AREA AT LYTTELTON.

The construction of the bulk oil tanks at Lyttelton is now nearing completion, and the opening will coincide with the arrival of bulk supplies of petroleum products, which are due by the s.s. Pleiodon on Monday next. The bulk stores which are being installed by the Shell Company will have the greatest storage capacity of any in New Zetland. They are situated on the reclaimed land, and cover an area of four acres. Six large storage tanks have been erected, five for motor spirit and one for kerosene. The tanks are of three distinct types, and embody the most recent ideas in the construction of petroleum spirit storage reservoirs. Practically all the material used for the construction of the installation is of British or of local manufacture. A boiler-house has been built qn a section for the purpose of supplying steam to the tankers while discharging their bulk cargoes, as during unloading operations all fires on board are extinguished. The steam required for working the ship’s pumps and electric light dynamos # is therefore obtained from an independent source. A railway siding has been laid down, so that the rail tank cars can receive with expedition their bulk supplies for transportation to centres such as Christchurch, Ashburton and Greymouth.