NEW STEAMER

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1932, Page 3

NEW STEAMER

MODERN E’Q UIP MK N T

AUCKLAND, March 30

On her first visit to Auckland, the British Phosphate Commission's new steamer Triona has arrived with a cargo of phosphate from Nauru Island. Designed and built for the phosphate trade, the Triona has special equipment for the handling of bulk cargoes, and for the particular work she has to do in the islands. Under the break of the fo'c’sle she has the most powerfu, inch ever put into a steamer, for, a) though it was specified to lift 50 ton: and withstand a pull of 100 tons, f actually broke a chain at a strain o. 108 tons-. This winch is used for HP ing and putting down moorings at th islands, where the water is from 2Ct to 240 fathoms deep. For tins purpn;. also, the vessel has a specially strong overhanging bow. projecting 24 feel beyond the waterline. The wireless equipment is claimed to he the most up-to-date in the Pacific, jii addition to a -short and long wav: transmitter by which she can maintaii lirect communication with London, she has a wireless telephone installation, with a 750-watt transmitter, b; which she can Speak to Sydney or to the stations on Nauru and Ocean Islands. For use in emergency she hr fourteen batteries, capable of develop ing 1000 volts to supply the transmitter Although slip has been afloat only a little over a year, having been launchoi at the Govan yards of Hnrlaud am Woolf on January 22, the 'Triona hn passed through some stormy weatlm in which Captain M. M. Johnstone sai she proved herself a lirst-elass see boat. On her speed trials on Mari’ 18 and 21 of last year she did l 7 > knot: but her service speed, fully loaded, i 11 v knots. At present she is Itiirnin. oil fuel, but she can he adapted fm ■oid. H't phosphate-carrying eapaci' is 6000 tons, in addition to which slit has refrigerator space for taking fre*--’ neat anil vegetables. Accommodation is provided for twelve passengers an for native labour.