BULK PETROL

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 18

BULK PETROL

Texas Co. Enters Field Here

A recent' interesting visitor to New Zealand ports was the Texas Company's huge Diesel Tanker "Australia," the largest Diesel tanker afloat, :.and by far the biggest vessel of Its kind to visit these waters. HER over-all length is 530 feet, beam 70 feet, with a. draft of 27 feet. The gross tonnage is 11,628, tons and she has a capacity of 145,000 barrels of refined petroleum products, a dead weight of 18,800 tons, or sufficient to fill over 1,000 railway tank cars. The "Australia" is one unit of the Texas Company's big fleet of 27 oceangoing ships. She will be employed m supplying the Company's bulk installations m Australia and New Zealand. Her arrival m this Dominion marks • the Texas Company's entry m real earnest, into this market m the bulk supply of motor spirit. It is interesting to note that out bf the hundreds of Texaco pumps spread ' over every city, town, village and hamlet throughout the length and breadth of the country, practically all were made m New Zealand on a design Invented by a New Zealander. A visit to any of the terminals of the Company m New Zealand reveals a standardised, scrupulous neatness which dis T tingviishes the Texaco plants anywhere m the 46 countries m; the world m whfchl the Company operates. The tanks at the terminals are of the latest gas-proof type and will be painted with aluminium paint, which is not only very pleasing m .appearance, but is best for deflecting the sun's rays. This helps considerably to prevent loss of 'spirit through evaporation.. The Texas Company has 17 refineries and 2,500 bulk stations throughout the. United States, but these are 'by no means the sum total of Its ramifications. *