TRIAL TRIP OF THE KING EDWARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9244, 2 September 1901, Page 1

TRIAL TRIP OF THE KING EDWARD.

Following is an account of a new turbine steamer specially constructed for the trade between. Glasgow and Campbeiltown by Messrs. William Denny. Bros., of Dumbarton. She underwent her, trial trip on the Clyde on June 28, when. the results were most satisfactory, the new vessel maintaining a speed of 20 -knots an hour. The vessel, which wag named. the King Edward, attracted mu6h attention as being 1 the first steamer . in the passenger service fitted with the turbine method of propulsion. So far (the Rothesay Express, from which this description of her is token says), as far as speed 16 concerned., she has already proved her superiority, and as there is every expectation that she will turn out equally oatisfactory in other respects, her appearance^in this fir^t- year of a new century may be regarded as marking an era in the progress of steam navigation. . The King Edward has been built on the same tinea as the Duchess of Hamilton, and was launched by Messrs. Denny from' the Leven Yards on May 16. Her length between the perpendiculars is 250ft, while she is 30ft in moulded breath, and 17ft 9in in. depth, moulded to the promenade deck. She is fitted with three separate turbines driving three, screw shafts, each shaft carrying two propellers. At a speed of 20 knots, the speed df the re-,.«f'liit-ion« of the centre shaft is 700 and (wftlie two outer shafts 1000 per minute. ' Apart from the machinery, there is little to distinguish the vessel from tlhe ordinary river steamer, except that there are n» projecting sponsors. The promenade deck extends from stem to transom comijletely. Aft, there is a large companion ending to the first-class accommodation. There are two funnels, each with a separate casing, on the promenade deck, the ticket office being situated between. The deck between the funnel casings has been carried out to the side, and forms a boat platform, the central part being utilised for the stowage of life-belts. On the main deck abaft, the machinery hatch there is a very large saloon, lighted from the sides by square windows. The'\seats are arranged in bays,\ and beautifully upholstered. On one side of the saloon entrance there is a large room for ladies, and at the other a tea-room. Forward of the funnel casing there is a galley, scullery, and larder, and the forepart of the main deck has been reserved for steerage passengers. The . after part of the main deck is fitted up as a first-class dining saloon, and seats about 90 persons. The forward part of the lawer deck is used as a second-class saloon, and has also accommodation for the officers and crew. The vessel is equipped with the usual warping capstans, steam' steering gear, etc. The boiler, a doubleended one of the Scotch pattern, having a funnel at each end, is* supplied by Messrs. Denny, and the turbines (of which there are three) by tSie Parsons' Marine Steam Turbine Company, of Wallsend-on-Tyne. The vessel waa built under the special supervision of the Board of Trade, , and has e, certificate for carrying over 2000 passengers. One noticeable feature in the vessel was the absence of vibration, even when she was going at top speed. Near the extreme end of the dining saloon, ©lose to the propellers, there was certainly some vibration, but this was caused by the action of the propellers in the water, and not by the machinery. The vibration at this point, however, was not such as to interfere with the comfort of those travelling, and it may be mentioned that the writing table a*, the far end of the saloon was without any inconvenience whatever.