NEW MOTOR SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1930, Page 2

NEW MOTOR SHIP

PORT WAIKATO ARRIVES. AN UNEVENTFUL v VOYAGE. The new motor ship, Port Waikato, built at. Leith, Scotland, by Messrs Henry Robb, Ltd., for Messrs A. F. Watch 11 n and Co., of Auckland, arrived at Lyttelton on Thursday afternoon on her maiden voyage from England.

After undergoing her official speed trials, in which she attained a speed of lid knots, the Port Waikato left Leith on November 24th. for Oslo to load timber at that port for Melbourne. The voyage from Norway to Australia was an uneventul one. An average of 9.7 knots was maintained from Suez to Albany, this portion of the voyage taking thirty days. After replenishing the. ship’s water tanks at Albany, the Port Waikato called at Adelaide, where oil fuel was obtained. On discharging at Melbourne the vessel went on to Newcastle and Port Stephens, to load timber for Lyttelton. An average speed of 10 knots was maintained from Port Stephens to Lyttelton, the trip ocunying six days. Throughout the entire trip fair weather was experienced, with the exception of the first three days out from Port Stephens when easterly head winds and rough seas prevailed, On arrival at Lyttelton the vessel attracted considerable, interest, as she is something new in the, coastal freighter class. Buik to Lloyd’s Register highest class, under special survey, the Port Waikato is of the raised quarterdeck type, with bridge amidships and long topgallant forecastle. Her length between perpendiculars is 18flft. moulded breadth 28ft. and moulded depth from the main deck 13ft. 3in. The dead-weight carrying capacity is 88 tons. The hatchways are very large and tbe holds free from obstructions, and the deck machinery includes two powerful self-slewing steam winches, a steam windlass and a steam warping capstan, the steam being supplied by a marine return-tube boiler. The propelling, machinery consists of twostroke, single-acting Diesel engines lutving four cylinders, 16in. bore- by 20in. stroke, rated 560 b.li.p. when running at 250 revolutions. The engines are of the independent scavenging type, and have mi-cooled pistons. The engine-room auxiliaries include a dynamo, driven by a. belt from tbe main engine intermediate shaft, which supplies continuous ship lighting, a 750watt petrol-driven light-generating plant for use in port, and a. small petrol-driven air compressor to supply initial compressed air to the air storage tanks, of which there are four, 30in. in diameter by Bft. long, and one 20in. diameter by oft. long. A 20 k.w. generating plant, driven direct by a 25 h.p. Diesel engine, is also installed, chiefly to supply power to an auxiliii.ry. two-stage air compressor, a Gin. tvnvtrifngal ballast pump of 110 tons per hour capacity; a duplex general service and fire pump suitable for 2001 b, pressure, a 4in. centrifugal auxiliary lubricating oil pump, an oil purifier, oil heater and transfer pump. The vessel will be emoloyed in the inter-colonial and coastal trade. Captain A. F. W'atchlin has associated with him the following officers: Chief. Mr C. Oracknell; second, Mr F. Chapman; chief engineer, Mr A. Hale; second. Mr C. W'atchlin.