The second specially designed rubber transport ship, destined for Firestone's trans-Atlantic service, was christened recently at Koyo Dock Yards in Japan. After several months of outfitting and shakedown, the new Harbel Tapper will join her sister ship, Harbel Cutlass, this summer in transporting natural rubber and latex from Firestone plantations in Liberia to the United States. The ships are chartered to a subsidiary of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio.
The new ship is 461 feet long, 72 feet wide, has three cargo holds, one 'tweendeck and can carry 72 standard containers on deck. She is equipped with 14 tanks with an approximate capacity of 4,000 tons of liquid latex. She is also equipped with pumping capability on all tanks for efficient unloading.
The ship will make regular runs between the United States and Liberia, which will further expedite shipments and service to Firestone's latex customers. Normal ports of call in the United States will be at Fall River, Mass., Baltimore, and Savannah, where Firestone has latex terminal facilities.