THE NEW S.S. SUEVIC.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9079, 21 February 1908, Page 7

THE NEW S.S. SUEVIC.

London,' January 10. • . The opinion o£».the. representative of Messrs Harlahd and Wolff, who superintended the re-creation of the White Star- steamer, is *that the “new” Suevic will be even stronger than the “old.” This marvellous vessel is once more afloat, alter having been provided with a new bow to fit the_after part salved from the wreck off .the Cornish Coast in March of last year. The re-creation of this steamer is one of the most remarkable feats of marine engineering ever performed. The Suevic, a vessel of 12,500 tons, and 650 feet in length, was wrecked on the Stag Bock on March 17th. Her bow was fast-on the rooks. She could not he towed off, and it appeared as if she would become a total wreck. It was, however, decided to make the attempt to salve the afterpart, with the view of completing the vessel by the building of a new bow. The afterpart was made watertight, and the fore part was blown up by dynamite. The operation was sucessfnl, and the salved portion was towed to Southampton. Messrs Harland and Wolf undertook the building Of a new bow, and this after being launched at Belfast early in October, was towed safely to Southampton, after a perilous and difficult task, occupying six days, progress being delayed by fog 'and strong gales, and at times the bow as well as her two tugs were drifting hopelessly. Taking the variations of the course into consideration, a distance of nearly 600 miles was covered during the passage' from Belfast to Southampton, of this 8000 ton bow, with a length of 212 feet. At Southampton the bow was floated into dock to be joined to the old afterpart, already in position there. Wooden guides projecting from the sides of the afterpart kept the bow in position as the [two portions were floated ! together. The stern was heavily ballasted to keep it in position, and the stokehole and engine room were flooded. The work of completing the union has occupied two months, and to-day, after a successful voyage round to Liverpool, the “new ’’Suevic fis [to sail for Australia, thus taking up her former regular duty in the Australian service of the White Star Company.