OVERSEAS SHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1920, Page 4

OVERSEAS SHIPS.

PORT ALMA SAILS TO-DAY. TROUBLE IN GOAL BUNKERS. WEST CAMARGO DUE TO-DAY, The C. and D. liner Port Alma, which' was originally diverted from New Plymouth to the Waitara roadstead, where she arrived on Sunday, was not worked there owing to the state of the weather, and came on to New Plymouth yesterday morning. She was boarded about « 7.10 a.m. by Captain Waller, who had just taken out tiie Atsuta Maru, and a clean bill of health being recorded, the ship berthed at about 8.15. There > were 136 bags of Australian mail on board. This was the first port of call since leaving Sydney on Tuesday, September 7. When berthed the vessel was drawing 18ft. of water forward and 22ft. aft. The Port Alma is a. vessel of 0669 tons, 474 ft. in length, nnd with a W.4ft. beam. She is about 23 years old, and was previously named the Indralema. She visited New Plymouth on October IS, WIS, but at that time the regulations in force forbade any notice of her movements. During the war she traded for two years between New Zealand and Port Said, carrying cargoes of meat for the Imperial Government. She is in command of Captain J. Jack, who has with Mm the following officers:—-Chief, Mr. <J. Hall; second, Mr. S. C. Carter; third, Mr. F. J. Fnllick; fourth, Mr. R. B. Anderson; chief engineer, Mr. J. MrKenzie; second, Mr. E. A. Lee; third, Mr. H. Dunn; fourth, Mr. H. Howarth; fifth, Mr. G. Patterson; chief refrigerating engineer, Mr. H. P. White; second, Mr. W. Murray; chief wireless operator, Mr. R. L. Solway (late of the Prinzessin); second, Mr. F. Brewer: chief steward and purser, Mr. J. L. Fisher. - . Loading operations were commenced yesterday, but only one hatch was worked. For the last few days the vessel had been experiencing trouble with the bunkers, which had become overheated, due to the inferior quality of the American coal. As a result it was decided that the .vesesl should proceed to Wellington to-day to empty her bunkers, and she is' scheduled to sail at 8.30 a.m. Our Waitara correspondent states that one barge had been loaded to go out to the Port Alma in the roadstead, but it was impossible for the Wetere to negotiate the bar. There is a possibility that the Waitara shipment will he railed in to New Plymouth for loading when . the Port Alma returns. Berthage now being available, the West Camargo, with case oil from San Francisco, left Wellington at 6.5 p.m. yesterday, and is due here ahout midday to-day. The Port Alma will return to resume loading after the West Camargo'a discharge is completed. The West Camargo is an oil fuel vessel of the General Steanisliip Corporation's line, and the consignment for New Plymouth is 15,000 cases of oil. Slip discharged 40,000 cases at Auckland. 30,000 at Wellington. After discharging she goes to Melbourne, for which port the ship has 2000 tons of cargo and 5000 feet of lumber.