Record Identifier106-23Date Range1958DescriptionBlack and white print of Katea, port side. Photography by W Ralston Ltd, Glasgow. A293/23. Rear: AX Katea. 661. Stephen; Ordered 12.8.55 for delivery 3.58; launched 22.4.58 (Mrs RM Campbell), Sea trails 4.6.58, delivered 5.6.58. Stephen-Sulzer Engine - port of registry to be Wellington. Master - Captain VD Coleman. Chief Engineer Mr W Sturroch. Loaded on Conference Berth (Federal) at Workington (Sailed 7.6.58) and Liverpool (Sailed 13.6.58) for Auckland, New Plymouth and Wellington. Outward voyage via Curacao (26.6.58) Cristobal (2.7.58) Balboa (3.7.58) due Auckland 28.7.58. Cargo vessel; 325' x 51' x 26'; total deadweight 5440 tons at 22'4"; cargo dw 4980 tons; cargo capacity 250,880 cubic feet; 3760 gross, 1950 net; diesel engine single screw, 2650 BHP. 13 knots loaded trail, 12 knots service. A new vessel for the Trans Tasman cargo trade was launched from the Glasgow yards of Alexander Stephen and Sons on 22nd April, and was named "Katea", having been built for Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited. The naming ceremony was performed by Mrs RM Campbell, the wife of acting High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom. This vessel is the thirteenth ship of a new class of 5000 tons dw cargo vessels built for Union Company by Stephen's since the war, and is the forty-eighth ship to be added to this company's fleet since 1946. Ships of this class are of 325 feet in length, 51 feet beam, and are built to carry a deadweight cargo of 5000 tons on a loaded draft of 22 feet 4 inches at a service speed of 12 knots. Most of these find ships are engaged in the Trans Tasman trade, but on occasions voyages are also made as far afield as Indonesia, Malaya, India and Ceylon to supplement the Company's regular trades in these areas. A feature of this class of vessel is the particularly good cargo working gear - six sets of gear served by 2 electric winches and very convenient long derricks ensure that cargo is handled with maximum efficiency, and the modern single-pull type of MacGregor rolling steel hatch covers exemplify the general high standard of the equipment. MediumPhotograph - print
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Copyright AttributionW Ralston Ltd, GlasgowCopyright LicenseCopyright unknownCitationWellington City Council Archives, AF093-106-23
