UNDER NEW ZEALAND FLAG

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 11

UNDER NEW ZEALAND FLAG

Oil TANKER PAUA ARRIVES A WELL-APPOINTED VESSEL In shipping and commercial circles more than ordinary interest is being centred in the British Imperial Oil Company’s (N.Z.) tanker Pan a. which is the first vessel to carry petroleum in bulk in New Zealand waters under the Now Zealand flag .. After loading at Singapore on August 15, the Paua sailed for Bluff, whore sho arrived last Tuesday. Prom there she goes to Wellington, where she was expected to-day. A formal welcome was to bo hold on board. CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS. Built by Messrs Harlaud ami \Jfqlff, Ltd., at Govan, Glasgow, on the combined transverse and longitudinal system of framing, with straight stein and raised quarter-deck, this vessel is fitted with two twin masts, and is propelled through a single screw by Diesel machinery The Paua has two longitudinal bulkheadi and nine oil-tight compartments as cargo tanks, and is classed at Lloyd’s 100 A 3 for tho carriage of petroleum in bulk and cases, Tho vessel has a gross tonnage approximating 1,260, and, wi..io the port of registry is for the moment London, this will bo altered to Wellington. The dimensions of the Paua are: Length 316 ft lOin, breadth (moulded) 3Cft SJ-in, depth 15ft.

The vessel’s nine oil compartments—three centre tanks and six wing tanks —have a capacity of 804 tons of motorspirit in the centre tanks, and 273 tons m tho wing tanks, making a total of 1,077 tons. Tho centre tanks arc fitted to load and discharge 13,690 cases of petroleum products, and a further 2,550 cases of motor spirit can bo carried in the forehold, whilst an additional 6,910 cases can be accommodated in tho wing tanks. Tho vessel’s bunker capacity is 115 tons of Diesel fuel. The Diesel machinery consists of a BanueisLn and Wain engine, built by Messrs Harlaud and Wolff, Ltd., and is of tin; feur-stroko single-acting type, coupled direct to the propeller. Tho engine has six cylinders of 500 mm. diameter, with a stroke of 900 mm., designed to develop 700 b.h.p. at 130 revolutions per minute. The guaranteed speed of the vessel is nine and a-quarter knots on a consumption of three and a-balf tons of Diesel fuel per twenty-four hours. An 80 b.h.p auxiliary engine is provided for driving the cargo pumps and winches, and donkey boiler supplies steam to accommodation heating; steering gear, auxiii; y pumps, etc. The tanker is fitted with gas ejectors, vapor lines, steaming out connections, and the latest typo of chemical fire extinguishers. Tho two cargo pumps have a capacity of 300 tons each per hour, one being driven by auxiliary motor, and the other by steam. The accommodation for the officers and crew of the ship is excellent, while the tanker is fitted to comply with New Zealand regulations regarding mess rooms for crew (of eighteen). Hot and cold water and shower baths are among the particularly fine appointments embodied in the vessel. THE OFFICIAL TRIALS.

The Paua’s trials wore carried out on Juno 10 off Southampton, when, at the invitation of the chairman and directors of the British 'lmperial Oil Company (N.Z ), Ltd., a large party, comprising the company's executive and guests, attended a function on board. During the inspection of the vessel general admiration was expressed at the thoroughness with which the work of construction had been curried out. An almost entire absence of vibration was particularly noticeable during the trials.

During the afternoon the parly assembled in the officers’ dining room on the main deck, Sir Robert Waley Cohen presiding. Following the exchange of courtesies and the reading of messages received from absent guests, Sir Robert thanked those present for assisting in the celebration of a rather historic occasion. The tanker was, he believed, the first to lly the New Zealand flag. One might perhaps bo pardoned if one carried one’s mind back to the time, less than fifty years ago, when the first tankersteamer in the world took the seas. In that short span there had grown np a vast fleet of ships of all sizes, up to and exceeding 20,000 tons capacity, carrying petroleum and its products in millions of tons to every quarter of the globe. He hoped that that day they might be laying the foundation of a development'as far-roadiing it its consequences as that which followed the launching of the first oil-tank steamer in the world. It laid been a proud thing for the owners of that ship—the British Imperial Oil Company of New Zealand, ono of the largest family known as the “ Shell ” group—that it had fallen to their lot to carry the flag of New Zealand on the first tank vessel in her historv, and to enable the dominion to be'the first of all the daughter nations of the Empire to sail a tank vessel round her coasts and on the high seas. Ho had almost said a tank steamer,” but that vessel was propelled not by steam, hut by Diesel engines, now rapidly becoming recognised as the most efficient power lor a modern ship. The Dana during her trip to New Zealand was in command of Captain .1. T. Davies, but it is understood that Captain D. R. Paterson, who has for some considerable time boon in command of the An am bn, which to date has been employed on coastal trading by the British ‘imperial Oil Company (N.Z.). Ltd., will take over command of the Paua in the immediate future.