Unique Vessel
pp. 54-56 · Read in the full issue
Chien She is World's Largest Suction Dredger
ANEW twin-screw suction dredger, the Chien She, built for the Whangpoo Conservancy Board of Shanghai Harbour, was launched recently in Danzig. Con structed for work on the “Fairy Flats,” which are 25 miles from the mouth of the Yangtse-kiang, she is, consequently, similar in most respects to a seafaring vessel.
The Chien She, the largest vessel of her type in the world, has been delivered to her owners and is now at work. While the vessel is under way, a trunk-shaped sucker, located amidships, is lowered until it touches the sea-bottom. Mud thrown up by the sucker is then drawn through the trunk by means of a large centrifugal pump, located in the fore castle, and is transferred into the hold, which has a capacity of 34,500 cubic feet.
When the hold is filled, the vessel puts to sea and dumps her cargo by means of 20 two-winger flaps built into the bot tom of the hold, or by utilising the same pumps used to load her. Working in this way, the dredger can transport 215,000 cubic feet of mud per 10-hour day.
According to the Vacuum Oil Co., the Chien She is propelled by two triple expansion steam engines and the dredger pump by another engine of the same type.
These develop a total of 5,000 h.p. The hull of the ship measures 373 ft. long, 60 ft. wide, and has a depth of 26i ft.
When the ship was launched a great number of fire-crackers were set off by the Chinese in an effort to rid it of any evil spirits which might be lurking therein.
The Chien She is lubricated throughout by Gargoyle marine oils.
Mr. Benjamin Ryder, a long resident of Fiji, died at Suva on July 17, aged 67.
After being employed for many years by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company s branch as Nausori, he joined the Fiji Public Works Department at Walu Bay, and remained in the service until he retired a short time ago.
Mr. J. A. Todd, of the Australian Na tional Research Council, departed for New Guinea by the Macdhui in July. He will continue his anthropological work at Lindenhafen, on the southern coast of New Britain.
Mr. F. O. Cutler, of Messrs. Cutler and Pratt Ltd., owners of Tobera plantation at Kokopo, New Britain, returned to Rabaul by the Macdhui in July after a four weeks’ business visit to Australia.