PANAMA TOLL RECORDS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1924, Page 3

PANAMA TOLL RECORDS

With the passive of the British warships Maud and Repulse through the eanal on July 23rd. and 21th. new records were established lor size ol ships and tolls paid lor the transit of the Panama Canal (states the “Canal Record.”) Both of the vessels are larger than any other which has used tlie eanal to dale. The Hood is Stilllt. Tin. in length, has a maximum hen in of |ooft. 2.J in. and her displacement tonnage at. the time of transit was •11,79!) tans. At oil cents per ton of displacement, the tolls on the Mood annulled to ‘23,399.5<!d..L <Co<::;:». The Tlepills? is 7!Mft. UJin. in length, with a heam of l(!2ft. Sin. and disolacement at time of transit was .‘15,d0!) tons, requiring lolls of 17,(J79.5!)d01. (Cl,009). The draught of the Hood was 2211. and that of the Repulse 30ft. previous records wore:— H.M.S. Renown, 795 ft.; beam. I Tided States battleships Mississippi and New Mexico, 97l t. -tin.: displacement, H. M.S. Renown, 33.379 tons; tolls, steamship America, 1G,855d01.; draught, steamship Hell roil, 35ft. 2in. On account of the great Hearn ol the Hood and the Repulse, their passage through the locks was ol especial interest. The width of the lock chambers is 110 ft. which left in the case ol the Hood, a clearance of ‘2ft. I:»in. <■» either side. The usable length of Unlocks is 1009 ft. which leil approximately 70ft. of clearance lore and aft atween the Hood and the lock gates. On a,count of the belts of armour the greatest beam of I,he ships was below the water line. Outriggers, consisting of poles attached vertically to booms, were placed on either side, to indicate t„ the pilot the fall !>™»» 1,1 the ship, aml seamen were stationed opposite the outriggers, with signal Hags to signal to the pilot if the vessel slum d approach closer to the wall than ‘2ft. Right towing locomotives were used on eitliei 81 The transit of the eanal was handled without incident and apparently without difficulty. The vessels answered the helm extremely well, and there was no trouble in entering the looks or in passage through any part of the eanal channel.