The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft, je
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The Kingston Flyer meets the arrival of the Earnslaw Arrow miners band asset in the future, not only to the company, but the wider Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu communities. "There is a lot of passion for the TSS Earnslaw so as long as Real Journeys owns the Earnslaw, she will be retained as a steam ship" said Richard. With such commitment and a dedicated crew and staff is it any wonder the TSS Earnslaw retains the indisputable title, "Lady of the Lake". ■ spec's engines and boilers which is done annually, the starboard shaft was removed for inspection and one of the crankshafts was overhauled. This had to be lifted out by crane and was a major job." The main contractor for the 2012 survey was Gough Bros of Invercargill, and Real Journeys CEO Richard Lauder paid tribute to the 80-100 staff and contractors involved in their extensive overhaul: seven days a week for eight weeks was a mighty effort to get the Lady's back into service on Lake Wakatipu in July. They had to deal with the unforeseen replacement of 50-year-old steel plating below the lower deck. Other improvements included timber on the foredeck which was replaced, new foredeck handrails were fitted, saloon seats were reupholstered and the steamer underwent a comprehensive interior and exterior paint job. Earnslaw completes an average of 2000 running hours a year; much more than she did when she was owned by New Zealand Railways. She uses 2000 tonnes of coal a year, all hand stoked, and travels 40,000km a year, the equivalent of a circumnavigation of the world. Consultant engineer Russ Morton was contracted by Real Journeys to assist with the biennial survey and he says that even though the TSS Earnslaw's engines are working harder than ever, yet she is still in peak condition. TSS Earnslaw is classified by the Queenstown Lakes District Council as a category one heritage artefact, the first boat in New Zealand to be afforded long-term protection through a district plan, highlighting the regard she is held in as a national tourism icon. One hundred years after her arrival on Lake Wakatipu TSS Earnslaw is one of the few engineering examples of her kind in the world still doing what she was designed to do under full commercial ownership. Real Journeys remain committed to maintaining the authenticity of the "Lady of the Lake" as a traditional hand stoked, coal fired, passenger steamer and is an important part of their commercial activities. Yes, there has been discussion over the years of converting her to diesel power, but this was really never seen as an option says the company matriarch Olive Hutchins. While some concessions have been for her to operate in her current role, CEO Richard Lauder said that Real Journeys have made a significant investment in future proofing Earnslaw so that she can remain a commercially viable LOA 168ft Beam 24ft Draft 6ft 6in Power. Twin locomotive type boilers Propulsion Twin triple expansion 500hp steam engines Service speed 13 knots, 16 knots maximum Displacement 329.55 gross registered tons Owner Real Journeys "The world's leading inspection, vertification, testing and certification company" Marine Surveying, Design Approval and new Construction Survey, Cargo Surveying, Safe Ship Management, Equipment Inspection and Testing (including Radiography, Thickness and Crack Testing etc), Cranes, Lifting Equipment, Pipeline, Boilers and Pressure Vessels Design Verification and Certification, Water and General Laboratory Testing, Vibration and Oil Analyses. ISO 9001:2008, ISO 17925, ISO 17020:2000 NATIONAL SHIPPING OFFICE: 17 Maurice Road, Penrose 1061 PO Box 13 518 Onehunga 1643, Auckland Ph: 0800 174 025, Fax: 09 636 6054 Email: nz.auckland.industrial@sgs.com www.nz.sgs.com VIP.WB12 S G S N E W Z E A L A N D LT D OFFICES IN: Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill, Dunedin NZ WORKBOAT REVIEW 2013 17