NEW LAUNCH FOR HARBOUR AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 5, 8 October 1948, Page 5

NEW LAUNCH FOR HARBOUR AT WHAKATANE

Plans To Replace Present Vessel

Harbour Board inquiries with a view to finding a suitable new launch to replace the Port Whakatane are still going forward. One proposition under consideration is for a boat 45 feet long, with a 14ft beam and a 4ft 6in draught, at a cost of £4OOO, plus the cost of an engine, which might be anything un to £2,500. The difficulty with a hull of this size is to get the measurements with the allowable deductions down to a registered tonnage of 6 tons. Any ship over 6 tons register requires 'a certified Master and Engineer whereas a boat of 6 tons or less, can be manned by a Master holding an Engineer’s ticket as is the present position with Captain Carey. A move is on foot in Auckland to try and persuade the Marine Department to raise the tonnage to 10 and the boat builder concerned has suggested that the Board take the matter up with the Secretary of Marine. He was of the opinion that the Port Whakatane would probably sell at a figure between £3,000 and. £4,000. The new hull would be approximately £4,000 and the type of engine he recommended (a 5 cylinder 95 B.H.P. Diesel) about £2500 fitted. It has been made clear to the Board that the suggested sale value of the Port Whakatane is only approximate and not the result of a survey. The question of the tonnage is to be taken up with the Marine Department.