THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND

JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Vol. CXIII.

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1917.

No. 2940.

COAL AND SHIPPING. I	ByF,ifwaard,bpn;stfvfns

!	M.I.M.E., A.M.I.E.E., &c.

XVI.—Coahdischarging Ports in Norway and Sweden.

Norway, although rich in iron and timber, has, like
the other Scandinavian countries, had to look for sup-
plies of coal almost entirely to England. True, abund-
ance of timber has made the use of wood suffice as a
fuel to some extent; and Nature has endowed .Norway
with large waterfalls, some of which have been put to
profitable use to meet the deficiency in coal for power
requirements. Moreover, Norway has 28,000 square
miles of forests, or over one-fifth of the total area of
the'country; and it is estimated that the water power
resources amount to no less than 10,000,000 horse-
power, although only about one-sixth of this great
natural power available has so far been utilised. The

Fig. 1.—Coal-discharging Quay at Christiania

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use of peat as a fuel has also developed to some extent,
particularly owing to the high price of coal at inland
districts distant from the ports.

The coal shipments from the British Isles to Norway
during 1913 amounted to a total of about 2,298,000
tons, mostly shipped at the east coast ports of the
Tyne, Humber, and Scotland ; during 1915 the exports
increased to about 2,643,000 tons; and in 1916 the
figure was about 2,308,000 tons. Recently, some
restrictions were placed on the export of British coal
to Norway, but owing to the desirability of ensuring
return cargoes, doubtless these restrictions have, not
been very severe; although, of course, it is necessary
to ensure that coal cargoes from this country should
not find their way to Germany, the Baltic ports of
which country, in pre-war years, received large con-
signments of coal from England, about 2,600,000 tons
being discharged there during 1913. Although the
bulk of the coal imported into Norway is of British
origin, a small tonnage has been exported from Ger-
many, more particularly for gas works use. It may be
mentioned that the Germans have been alert in Norway
in connection with the improvements of some of the
gas works, probably from the double motive of increas-
ing their export of gas coal, as well as gas works
plant.

Spitzbergen Coal.

Yet another source of coal supply for Norway is
being exploited, and more vigorously since the possi-
bility of restricted supplies from England has been
evident, namely — the coal-bearing lands of Spitz-
bergen. Spitzbergen has been explored on behalf of
several syndicates and different nations, that country
being at present unattached. Coal mining companies
have already been in operation there in a compara-
tively small way for several years, and supplies from
this source have found their way both to Norway and

Sweden. It is reported that an American company
has supplied something like 200,000 tons for the Nor-
wegian State Railways during the last six years, but
the interests of that company have recently passed to
Norway; and other Norwegian companies have been
formed to develop Spitzbergen coal in the vicinity of
Advent Bay and Green Harbour, which is reputed to
have resources amounting to about 1,000 million tons,
the estimate for the whole country being about 8,750
million tons. The coal so far supplied from Spitz-
bergen is stated to be small, but of good quality, and
comparable with the best Newcastle. It is shipped to
northern ports—Hammerfest, Tromso, etc.—but ship-
ments can only be effected during about four months
in the year, owing to ice drifts; and there are many
difficulties, such as labour scarcity in an isolated land,
where the cost of living is high, and water to supply
the steam boilers has to be obtained by melting ice.

Concerning the maritime commerce of Norway, so
comparatively recently as the year 1880 the mercantile
marine slightly exceeded a total of 1| million tons,
which consisted mostly of sailing vessels; and Norway
now possesses the fourth largest mercantile marine,
and the largest tonnage in proportion to its popu-
lation.

Norwegian Ports.

As regards ports, Christiania, the capital, which is
about 650 miles distant from England, stands first in
prominence and total registered tonnage, although
Bergen accounts for a larger number of vessels regis-
tered. The growth of Christiania is largely attributed
to the development of the port and improvement of
shipping facilities, the harbour affording an anchorage
of about 60 ft., and the quays, which are equipped
with electric cranes, providing for vessels drawing up
to 27 ft. of water. The total quantity of coal received
at Christiania during the year 1913 amounted to nearly
600,000 tons. An important coal discharging, storage,
and bunkering depot at Christiania includes a quay at
the east side of the- harbour, which Can accommodate
vessels with a. draught of 22 ft. This quay (fig. 1)
has modern electrically-operated transporters, which
span a storage ground 300 ft. in length adjoining the

Fig. 2.—Discharging Coal Barges at Gothenburg. ‘.(Sieurm System.)

quay. This storage ground has an area of 10,000
sq. yds., and allows for about 16,000 tons of coal and
6,000 tons of coke. The transporters are movable on
rail tracks along the quay and at the rear of the storage
ground; they are equipped with grabs of 1| tons capa-
city, and can discharge at the rate of about 100 tons
per hour. To take actual examples, a cargo of 1,475
tons was discharged at this depot in 12| hours, and
another cargo of 3,500 tons in 40 hours, including the
time occupied in changing the position from one hatch
to another, trimming to the hatchways, etc. This
equipment is also used for bunkering, and, as an
example of despatch, it may be mentioned that 450
tons of bunkers were supplied in six hours, including
trimming.

The next most prominent port — Bergen — is the
centre of the fishing industry in Norway, and, as
regards imports, is largely concerned with the discharge
of grain and coal cargoes. The harbour has four
entrances, which meet the requirements of large
vessels, and there is extensive quay accommodation,

with facilities for loading and discharge. The charge
for discharging coal cargoes at that port, it may be
mentioned, is equal to about 8d. per ton; and the
imports of coal at Bergen in 1913 amounted to about
281,500 tons.

Other ports in the Christiania Fjord include
Drammen, Fredrikstad, and Sarpsborg. Drammen is
principally concerned with the export of wood pulp
for paper making, but large consignments of coal are
received there, about 221,500 tons being the total
figure for the year 1913. Fredrikstad is the principal
port for the export of timber, which amounted to over
400,000 cu.m, during 1913; and its imports include
considerable quantities of coal, the total for that year
being nearly 52,000 tons.

Sarpsborg is situated near Fredrikstad, and although
a comparatively small port, is concerned with the paper
industry and timber exports, and the coal discharged
there amounts to a considerable figure—in fact, it is
the fifth port in Norway as regards coal tonnage dealt
with, which amounted to about 133,250 tons during
the year 1913. Sarpsborg can accommodate vessels
with a draught of 21 ft. alongside the quay, and elec-
tric cranes are available. The charge for discharging
coal is equal to about 7d. per ton. A coal discharging
and storage equipment, near this port, provided by a
large paper pulp company, includes a gantry-type
inclined boom crane, which is electrically operated, and
five inclined elevated tracks, on which operate auto-
matic cars of the type described in the previous article
of this series.

To the south, there are the ports of Stavanger and
Christiansund. At the former, which is largely con-
cerned with the fish tinning industry, there are two
deep water harbours accessible by three entrances,
and alongside the quays the depth of water varies
between 13 ft. and 17 ft. The coal shipments there in
1913 totalled about 72,000 tons. Christiansund also
provides a well-protected harbour with anchorage in
deep water, and quays for large vessels. Coal is dis-
charged there at the equivalent of 94,d. per ton, and
the shipments dealt with in 1913 amounted to nearly
52,000 tons.

North of Bergen, on the Atlantic coast, is the pro-
minent port of Trondhjem, situated, some distance
inland, on the River Vea. It has a well-protected
natural harbour, and vessels with a draught of 18 ft.
can go alongside the quays, where electric and steam
cranes are available for loading and discharging
cargoes. The tonnage of coal shipped there during
the year 1913 was nearly 201,500 tons, and the cost of

discharging coal is equal to about 8d. per,;ton. The
Trondhjem district is an important mineral centre,,
and, further north, the iron ore industry’.has been
rapidly developing. For example, the por’t'of Narvik
was concerned with the shipment of no less than 485
cargoes of iron ore, representing about 3,000,000 tons,
during the year 1913. Narvik is a comparatively new
port, founded to develop the export of iron ore,- and
is an important railway terminus. The entrance to
the harbour is about half a mile wide, and has a depth
of about 100 ft. Extensive quays have been con-
structed, which afford 20 ft. to 25 ft. depth of water
alongside, and are specially equipped for the loading
of ore cargoes; whilst there is also a special quay
allotted to the discharge of coal, where about 80,600
tons were dealt with in 1913, handling being effected
at the rate of up to 800 tons per day, at a charge
equal to about lOd. per ton. Another ore shipping
port is Kirkenes, situate in the extreme north. There
special transporter equipments are available, and the
port is used by large vessels of up to 11,000 tons, which