Transport Briefs
pp. 71-72 · Read in the full issue
© The world’s most advanced cable repair ship, which will help maintain the 15,000-mile undersea telephone cable network linking the UK with the rest of the world, has been officially named Monarch. She is the first of two cable ships being built at a cost of about $l4 million at Dundee in Scotland. The 3,500-ton Monarch will be able to carry out cable repair work in Arctic as well as tropical regions. Advanced design will enable work to continue in almost gale force winds. • Solair in the Solomon Islands increased fares from February 1 by
three per cent. It was the second in crease in less than three months, and was caused by a rise in fuel costs, which went up by 12.4 c a gallon after the fare increase in November, 1947.
Some new fares are Honiara to Gizo, $47; Honiara to Kira Kira, $3O; Honiara to Aukui, $14.30; Honiara to Yandina, $l4. © The Cook Islands inter-island trader, Moana, is tied up at Papeete for repairs. She may not return to service. She is owned by the Moana Shipping Co. Should she disappear.
Silk and Boyd will again become the only Cook Islands-based shipping
The Oriana, seen here berthed at Suva, is 204 ft too long for Fiji-born Captain Malcolm Peckham, who gazes at her from the top deck of the Harbour Master's office. He's just got his second class officer's certificate, which gives him charge of ships up to 600 ft. The Oriana is 804 ft. Captain Peckham, 27-year-old son of the late Captain Alfred Peckham, is a member of the Fiji pilots' pool, which is rapidly localising. Three other local members are Captain Micky Joy, who has his first-class ticket and can pilot ships of any size, Captain Jo Aisea, Harbour Master at Lautoka, and Captain Fred Vollmer.
company servicing outer islands in the group from Rarotonga. • Norfolk Island plans to be come a force to be reckoned with among regional airline operators in the South Pacific. Norfolk Island Airlines has placed an order for a la-passenger Beech Super King Air 200 for delivery late in July or early m August. A deposit has been paid, ihe aircraft has a top speed of 333 mph a range of 2,000 miles, and can fly at altitudes up to 32,000 ft. • The “sea leg” of an Air Niu gmi package service from Port Moresby to Samarai has ended.
Passengers for Samarai disembarked from their aircraft at Gurney and then made a sea trip to Samarai. In future passengers will have to make their own arrangements to get from Gurney to Samarai. Steamships Trad ing Co runs a service between Sama rai and Gurney which connects with two flights a week. However, one service means an overnight stay in Gurney. Hire of a launch from Gurney to Samarai can cost up to $6O. ® The disabled cargo ship Manu tea, from the Cook Islands, was towed into Port Moresby harbour for repairs late on February 24 after its engines failed in heavy seas, 200 kilo metres south of Papua two days be fore.
The coastal freighter Maluka towed the Manutea to the harbour entrance where a tug took over. An assess ment of necessary repairs was being made in Port Moresby. © Pan American World Airways, from April 9, will double to four the number of Boeing 747 flights into Australia from the US. Two of the flights will end in Melbourne, inaugu rating new services into that city. The PAA managing director for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, Mr Rush Clark, said that in spite of the world wide slump and the problems which faced many international carriers, Pacific travel had held up well, and there were indications that the trend would continue. • The Honiara Marina and Ship yard Co recently won a contract worth SUSI3O,OOO to build a 57 ft fishing and research vessel for the United States Trust Territory Govern ment. The boat is expected to be finished in July, after which it will be sailed to its base at Ulithi Island, Yap District. The project is being financed by the Congress of Micronesia. The boat will be operated by a fishing co operative.