Vessel

New Union Co.

To Link N.Z.-Fiji-Tonga-Samoa Next Year

A MODERN motor ship of 3,500 tons gross, for the passenger and fruit trade between Auckland, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa will be built in England this year for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Ltd. Tenders are to be called for immediately and the vessel is expected to take up her run early next year.

This new vessel will greatly augment the Central Pacific shipping services, which during the past five years have been much depleted. In 1930 the Moeraki, which maintained a service between Syd ney, Noumea, Fiji and Samoa, was with drawn. Two years later the Tofua (4,345 tons), constructed specially for the round trip to N.Z., Suva, Apia, and Tonga in 1908, was also laid up, being replaced by the Waipahi.

During 1933, however, the Waipahi was withdrawn and the cargo boat Karetu was substituted. Following representa tions by the Fiji banana-shippers for better conditions for the carriage of their fruit to the New Zealand market, the former schedule was reverted to and the Waipahi again took up the service. Since July, 1934, however, the call formerly made at Nukualofa has been omitted, and Tonga has been without regular com munication with New Zealand and Aus tralia.

With an overall length of 340 feet and a beam of 40 feet, the new vessel will be equipped with twin screws and Diesel engines capable of a maximum speed of 17 knots. She will have up-to-date accommodation for 40 passengers. As the ship’s main cargo will be fruit, special attention is to be paid to her design. In addition to space for general cargo, an insulated space of about 80,000 cubic feet will be provided for the carriage of Islands produce.

Until the new service has been inaugur ated the Port Whangarei, which has been chartered by the Union Co. from the Watchlin Line, will maintain a four weekly service between Auckland and Nukualofa, Tonga. The Port Whangarei is a twin screw motor vessel of 508 tons.