Handsome Schooner for Honolulu-Papeete Service

The handsome schooner "Te Vega", Honolulu owned, Liberian-registered (Monrovia on stern), which inaugurated a luxury passenger service

to Papeete in July. Originally with top-sails, she is now bald-headed. (Photo by courtesy of George E. Brady, Altadena, Cal.).

I as a purse-seiner in Australia in I 1947. Of 75 ft overall, she is powered K with a 135-hp Caterpillar V 8 diesel.

I Gross tonnage is 67.54, and nett K about 18 tons. The hull is of spotted I gum. (Photo March PIM, p. 107).

NAVUA IN SERVICE:—With ship dressed to mark her first visit, the ; Union Steam Ship Co.’s new fruit freighter Navua arrived at Suva July 10. Intended primarily for the Fiji-Samoa banana trade to New Zealand, the 3,581 gross-ton vessel has 4 holds fitted with a forced ' ventilation system, and with a total r capacity of about 24,000 cases of bananas. Equipment includes elec [ trie winches throughout and a powerful radio telephone installa tion with which contact was made with Suva immediately on clearing Auckland Dimensions are 350 ft. o.a. and 41 1 ft beam. The crew are , accommodated ’midships in two berth cabins. There is no passenger accommodation.

HELPING HAND; —ln the absence of a big-ship wharf at Vila, a former Australian coastal collier, the Mombah, moored in the harbour, is used as a dock-pontoon. Early last .March, in a heavy blow, while the MM liner Eridan was fast to Mombah, the moorings dragged about 150 yards, but fortunately the [four anchors took hold again when the stem of Mombah was only 50 yards from the reef. Eridan de parted, leaving Mombah well off her station and with no means of

raising the heavy mooring anchors and relaying them. Lately Captain R. Teisseire of the MM liner Tahitien undertook the task with that vessel. After 2 days’ work the two main anchors were brought up by the Tahitien’s gear. The liner then managed to drag the remaining two smaller anchors— and Mombah —to a more sheltered position, where 4 more days was spent in untangling the four cables totalling ten shackles of chain.

Then Mombah was taken back to her correct station and the moor ings re-laid. Scarcely a job to be performed with a big passenger ship, and one worthy of consider able praise for all concerned. (See photos.)

Under New Management 9 •

—Te Matapula, Whippy-built, 82-ft. auxiliary ketch, launched in Suva, March. 1953, for the GEIC Colony Wholesale Society, may change ownership according to Suva rumours. It is possible that the Gilberts Government will take her over to replace RCS Kia Kia now for sale. The Wholesale Society would then acquire a larger vessel more suited to its purposes.

New Noumea Vessel-

Societe Nickel, of Noumea, has acquired the self-trimming 8,000 tons d.w. French National Railways collier Caronte for use on the New Caledonia-NSW ore and coal trade.

Built in 1948, Caronte is a modern type of collier, and is expected to

enter the new service, with the pre sent Tayo, later in the year.

HANDS OFF!:—The New Cale

donia maritime Unions have lodged a protest against foreign vessels operating in the coasting trade.

Such ships have sometimes, at the request of the charterers, taken aboard cargo at Noumea, after clearing inwards, for discharge at some loading port up the coast.

Societe Nickel, following protests, has been forced to withdraw the chartered ship Gordian from ore transport between the mines at Thio and the smelters at Noumea.

Similar maritime laws now apply in many countries.

Well Done, Kovala!: —Dist-

ance from Sydney to Honiara is about 1,600 miles —but it has taken RCS Kovala just six years and four months to make the distance Launched February 1949, the 66-ft.

Government patrol vessel finally arrived in the Solomons in June, after endless modifications, altera tions, and finally a re-engining. On July 3. Kovala cleared Honiara on her first tour of duty—a run south to Vila with the Condominium’s new British Resident Commissioner, who had gone first to Honiara for consultations with the High Com missioner before taking up his post.

SP & L, BSIP:—The title is im pressive, though the lights are few: Superintendent, Port & Lights, British Solomon Islands Protec torate. Mr. D. M. Thorsen arrived at Honiara late in June to take up the position.

AUGUST CONVOY;—About late August an interesting convoy will sail down Sydney Harbour and head north for the New Hebrides.

Flagship will be Mr. M. Marinacce’s 211-ton MV Deutgan, with one or more barges in tow, and bringing up the rear will be Mr. Georges Holland’s Anaconda, mentioned last

month. Work on the refit of”

Deutgan and preparation of Ana conda has been slower than earlierj estimated.

Flying Angel For Suva:

The Suva Rotary Club has agreedi to sponsor a public appeal for funds to establish a Seaman’s Mission inc that port.

At Apia are (left) the smart Honolulu fisher man "Joyita", for sale and (right) the less smart “Mary Lou", recently classified as sea worthy. —Photos: Jack Thornton.