THE CLIPPER BOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 8

THE CLIPPER BOW

STEAMER’S UNUSUAL TRIONA’S SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. LAYING MOORINGS OFF ISLANDS. . Jn these adv meed days of modern steamers and motorships, bluff-bowed ami in c-ume iik-taiices even streamlined, the clipper bow, mad-e famous a few decades ago when it graced the biem of many a line sailing ship, is rarely seen. Cable ships and oceangoing yachts, the former for service and Hie latter fur eregauce, have retained the clipper bow to a certain extent, but it is rare indeed that a cargo steamer is so equipped. Hence, more than ordinary interest ha* been taken in the British Ihosphat© Commission's steamer Triona, which arrived at Wanganui earlier in the week with phosphate from Nauru Island. Inc Triuna was specially built fur the British Phosphate Commission and is a modern, well found cteanier in every respect. An unusual feature about the vessel is her clipper bow. Although this gives the steamer a mute elegant appearance, her stem has ii"i been so designed for the mere sake uf retaining the picturesque. Tae lu’c'sle c-pace of the Triona's n: deck is taken up with a huge windless which is driven by twu independent engines. Instead ol the usual quaiters for the crew, as is the case wiili jm.st ships, the fo’c’slc ii< equipped with au amazing collection of Ivvers, gcai.-, wire hawsers and other machine.y. 'L, the landsman it is all very beniideringbut this machinery serves a definin’ purpose and-the Triona is the only v ( .-el i-imilarly fitted which has called at Wanga nui. Owing to the tremendous depth <d the ocean floor oti Nauru and O<, Islands, special machinery L required tor the Joying of mouring-. iH. moorings are used by all steamers < :i, - ing at the islands to load rock pho--p .ate and weigh about 5U ions <’a< >.. H, ii- impossible, owing to the great depth, for a ship to anchor off th* islands, hence tne special moorings. For the purpose of attending to m moorings, principally laying them when .ei,uired, the Iriona lias been lilted with the nvcessary gear to accompli-h lhe wo.k in a comparatively shot! space of time. The depth is from 20'i io 225 fathoms and is t-aid to be thedeepest for any moorings in the wcrhl. Each of the two drums is capable of pulling a load weighing over 100 tons and the windlass, with its two engines, J| is so constructed that the machinery may be regulated according to re i|uii’ements. Both Ocean and Nauru I. -Lands, are really steep mountains rising from the sea and in reality there is no ocean floor. The anchors which hold the moorings in place must grip the slanting sides of the islands and must l»e placed vertically in the water. Wire hawsers are necessary to keep the buoys in place and to prevent the anchors from being lost in the great depth of water, fine two engines, incidentally, are driven by steam from the ship's main boilers. Un the fo’c’nle head of the Triona are rollers, and ether gear, which arc used for the hoisting of the buoys, 'i'hc cable con necting with the special windlass and the two drums piu-ises through a hawsehole in the skill’s bow. The Triuna is a different ship from the average steamer which calls at Wanganui with phosphate from the is lands. Bhe was specially built for the British Phosphate Commission about live yeans ago and conveys phosphate cargoes between the islands and AusDalian and New Zealand ports. The vessel’s passenger accommodation, how ever, is equal to that of any liner in a regular service. Bhe has a limitc.l number of spacious cabins and stat' r'/unij- and carries passengers, usual y officers ami employees of the Comtnis- | • inn. bet vveen Australia, or New Zea land, and the islands. Her chart,room, v. hc-elhouse and bridge are well protected and particularly roomy. So far as the navigation of the vei-sel is con ccrneil, she is equipped with the latc-t appliances. The I riona hai 2 European olHiC'i.s and carii'Ps a crew of Philip j-ine Islanders (seamen and firemen l land Chinese cooks and stewards. ’l'hc Triona ami the Commi-sion m motor-ship Triastvr. a new ship complete'! lart year, are the. only vessels trading t<; New Zealand with clipper bows and special gear for laying mo'>r ings in deep water. Until recently tl' p . Triona was an oil-burner, but is m>w making her first trip with coal. 8h« was to have completed discharge yosteidav and was to have sailed early this morning for Nauru Island, v ia V.ahi-