A TITAN AT WORK

Southland Times, Issue 20081, 19 January 1927, Page 8

A TITAN AT WORK

FLOATING CRANE TESTED.

HIKITIA’S EIGHTY-TON BUNDLE.

Since her arrival from Scotland last month, the Wellington Harbour Board’s floating self-propelled crane Hikitia has undergone an overhaul, and had her machinery adjusted. Recently the vessel was moored at Pipitea Wharf, and a series of lifting tests were carried out with her crane.

The Hikitia, which is 160 feet in length between perpendiculars, and 54 feet beam overall carries a crane, built by Sir William Arrol and Company, Glasgow, guaranteed capable of lifting a load of 80 tons at a radius of 50 feet, 60 tons at a radius of 65 feet, and 15 tons at a radius of 75 feet. The height of the lift above water level at 65 feet radius is 95 feet, while the clearance under the jib at the side of the vessel is 69 feet above water level. The speeds of hoisting are: 80 tons, at 4 feet per minute; 40 tons, at 8 feet per minute; 25 tons, at 12 feet per minute; and 15 tons, at 24 feet per minute. The crane is also capable of “derricking” full range in eight minutes, and slewing with 80 tons one complete revolution in four minutes.

The material used for the tests was several truck loads of old rails. Special wire slings were used, and each truck load of 20 tons was lifted bodily by the crane and deposited on the wharf. The jib was then adjusted to the prescribed radius for the weight of each lift and the bundle of rails was hoisted well clear of all obstructions while the crane slewed a complete revolution with each load.

The handling of the loose railway iron required great care, and the slinging necessarily took a fair amount of time but everything worked without a hitch.

After several lifts of 20 tons each had been put through, a load of 40 tons was swung at shorter radius; then another 20 tons was added, and the crane lifted the 60 tons at a radius of 65 feet. Finally, the lift was made up to the full 80 tons, and when the radius had been shortened to 50 feet, the crane hoisted the huge bundle of rails, the ship listing slightly as it took the weight. When well ciear the load was slewed a complete revolution of the crane and returned safely to the wharf.

The operations were watched by officials of the Harbour Board and representatives of the builders, and they expressed satisfaction with the tests.