New Equipment for Loading Phosphate at Nauru

WHILE the deposits are the richest in the world and are readily acces sible, there has been always difficulty in loading the excavated material on to overseas vessels, owing to the fact that there is no harbour or natural anchorage at either Nauru or Ocean Island.

When the deposits were first worked the phosphate was loaded into boats

at short timber jetties, just overhang ing the edge of the encircling reefs, and the boats were rowed out to the steamers and discharged. This method of transport and loading was naturally slow and laborious.

An improvement was later introduced with the construction of large canti lever jetties, extending from the beach and overhanging the deep water at the reef’s edge. Conveyor belts running in galleries on these jetties transported the phosphate to the end of the can tilever portion, where it was discharged into lighters, which were towed out by launches to unload into the steamers.

This method was a great improve ment upon the previous one, but it still

involved double handling and occupied a considerable time. The expeditious loading of vessels has been always an important factor because of the dan ger, particularly between the months of November and March, of unfavour able weather, arising while a vessel is offshore, causing much delay and en dangering the vessel.

It was in an endeavour to overcome the existing disabilities that the Com mission took the bold step of install ing the new loading equipment and, according to the March issue of The Commonwealth Engineer, this plant

appears to have afforded the final solution of the problem.

The new transport and loading ap paratus consists of a system of storage bins, belt conveyors and swinging canti lever cranes, which load direct into overseas vessels, thus saving a great deal of time and labour.

The new equipment has been, so far, installed only at Nauru, for the heavy capital expenditure necessary is only justified by the larger output from the Nauru deposits.

The Commission working the phos phates is controlled by the British, Australian and New Zealand Govern ment. Each year the production from Nauru alone exceeds 500,000 tons.

The British Phosphate Com mission, which is working the phosphate deposits on Nauru and Ocean Islands, has re cently completed the con struction of a new loading plant at Nauru. The total cost of the undertaking was about £200,000. The accom panying photograph gives a very good idea of the instal lation.

Block by courtesy The Commonwealth Engineer.