THE QUEEN MARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 151, 24 April 1940, Page 7

THE QUEEN MARY

POSSIBILITY OF AUSTRALIAN VISIT AROUSES INTEREST COULD ENTER HEADS Interest was aroused in Sydney shipping circles at the possibility that the Queen Mary might visit Australia says the Sydney Morning Pie raid. It was stated with authority that the liner would have no difficulty in entering the Heads and anchoring in the harbour, but would not be able to berth at any .wharf under present conditions. The Queen Mary is of 81,23.") tons, and lias a loaded mean draft of 3o feet 10*2 inches. She is 975 feet in length and US feet broad. The largest vessel that has ever entered the port was the Empress of Britain, during Australia's 150 th anniversary celebrations. The Empress of Britain is of 42.348 tons, and drew 32 feet 9 inches. She is 733 feet in length, and 97 feet wide. She berthed at Woolloomooloo. The Queen Mary would not be able to pass under the Harbour Bridge, and with her loaded draft of nearb' 36 feet, could not berth at Circular Quay, where the maximum draft is about 34 feet, without considerable dredging. • The channels into the harbour gave depths exceeding 100 feet, and their minimum depths allow a draft of about 40 feet. Before the Empress of Britain visited Sydney, the largest vessel that had entered the port was H.M.S Hood (41,000 tons displacement), which led the British Squadron into port in 1924, and steamed up the harbour at 12 knots. Although the whole of the Empress of Britain fitted comfortably alongside the wharf at Wooloomooloo, the Queen Mary would jut out for many feet, even if the water was deep enough. There are several berths in Well- 1 ington that can accommodate the Queen Mary.