New Drive-On Steamer Arrives

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 1

New Drive-On Steamer Arrives

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 24. The Union Steam Ship Company’s new drive-on steamer express Wahine arrived at Wellington today. The 9700-ton, clipper-bowed Wahine lay in Wellington i Harbour for four hours before coming alongside the overseas passenger terminal at 2.30 p.m. Hundreds of people watched as it eased in backwards against the wharf. Many went aboard in the afternoon, i The Wahine, the biggest

vehicle ferry afloat, wall make; its debut on the WellingtonLyttelton run on August 1. Its master is Captain E. G. K. Meatyard, who has served 42 years with the company and who will retire at the end of this year. Captain Meatyard said the Glasgow-built vessel performed well on its five-week delivery voyage from Scot- ; land. , A severe storm was met ] 'last Friday, when the Wahine: ; struggled through a southeasterly gale for five or six ‘hours—the backlash of a ' storm which had earlier covered much of the North I Island.

:• The Wahine, the first New ■ Zealand-owned vessel to be fitted with the new flume tank stabilisation system, came 1 through the storm very well, Captain Meatyard said. The Wahine has a crew of , 62, many of them New Zea- ] landers returning home. Many ' are expected to sign on again ] with the company. The vessel, which carried ■;no passengers or cargo, came . by the Panama Canal and, stopped at only Cristobal and; : Balboa in the Canal Zone and [ Papeete in the Pacific. i The Wahine will serve with, i the inter-island ferry Hine-; !moa for three weeks when

the recently-converted Maori is surveyed next week. I The 20-year-old Hinemoa will be laid up when the dual Wairine-Maari service begins on August 22. The advent of the Wahine means there are now four roll-on ferries operating between the North and South islands. Longer and 1400 tons heavier than the 12-year-old (Maori, the twin-screw, turboelectric Wahine can carry 927 (passengers and has space for s2OO vehicles. The main garage runs the (length of the main deck and there are two auxiliary ■ garages. Vehicles drive through a stern door.

The Wahine has modern features including cutaway bows, a large forward observation deck, brighter cabins, some in the luxury dass, a cafeteria for light meals, fluorescent lighting and reinforced plastic lifeboats,. Quick manoeuvring is ensured by a bow rudder, in addition to the twin aft rudders. These are supplemented by two transverse propellers, one each at the bow and stem.

First up the gangway today to greet Captain Meatyard was Mrs Tui Macfarlane. wife of the company chairman, Mr F. K. Macfarlane. She launched the Wahine just more than a year ago.