STEAMER’S ROUGH TRIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 492, 23 October 1928, Page 16

STEAMER’S ROUGH TRIP

SALTERSGATE BUFFETTED A very rough passage from Nauru island was made by the tramp steamer, Saltersgate which arrived in the stream at Auckland at ten o’clock last evening. The vessel had to ride off the island for a week waiting for the loading berth to become vacant. Four days later, on October 9, she sailed for Auckland. and was immediately beset by strong south easterly head winds and heavy seas. ( These conditions continued throughout the voyage. On Sunday and ! Monday, October 13 and 14, when the gale was at its height, the vessel rolled [and pitched in the high seas and was ! washed continually fore and aft by the great /aves. No serious damage was done on board, but a quantity of deck gear was removed during the course of the gale. The vessel’s speed for the trip was seldom much more than six knots, whereas she usually averages nine. At one time it fell to 5.9 knots. The trip from Nauru Island to Auckland usually takes from ten to eleven days, but the Saltersgate was over 13 days making the passage. She was originally due at Auckland on Saturday. The vessel was at Auckland some ten weeks ago, where after putting out part cargo, she completed discharge at Wanganui, and after bunkering at Westport, sailed to the island to load her present shipment. She discharges all the phosphate at King’s wharf, and sails about Saturday for Westport for bunkers.