CLAN MACAULEY Saves the day.
For those not familiar with the South African Fruit run, the norm after discharging at UK/Continent Port, was head south, clean the holds and start to cool the holds prior to arrival.
The CLAN MACAULEY had arrived in Cape Town on the 29th of January 1958, from all accounts she was not scheduled to load fruit.
The layout of the fruit cooling chambers at Cape Town was, one cooling chamber at “A” berth and followed by chambers at “B and C” berths. Between “A” and “B” berths was the cooling plant room which served all here chambers.
At approximately 18’00 hours fire broke out and was fanned by the strong south easterly wind, the fire engulfed B and C chambers and threatened the plant room.
All available appliances were called to the scene and two fire tugboats were brought alongside in order to control the conflagration.
When the fire was brought under control B and C chambers were badly damaged and the cooling plant room was out of action due to the amount of water pumped into the area.
Fruit was waiting to be loaded but had not been pre-cooled.
After much discussion, it was decided that the fruit would be loaded onto CLAN MACAULEY even though she was unprepared. Fruit would load at night when it was cool and that no loading would be undertaken during daylight hours.
Extra Wooden battens were place horizontally and vertically between the cases of fruit in order to increase the movement of chilled air between the boxes.
The MACAULEY eventually departed Cape Town on the 8th of February and everyone one was on tenterhooks as there were fears that the fruit would be unfit would be declared unfit for purpose when she arrived in the UK.
When the cargo arrived in the UK it was closely examined and was deemed fit for purpose and the whole exercise deemed a complete success.
After the Clan MACAULEY had departed, work was undertaken to repair the damaged cooling plant room.
Vic