SHIP WITH "BLISTERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 10

SHIP WITH "BLISTERS."

MOTORSHIP KING MALCOLM.

CORRUGATED-SIDED TYPE.

SEVERAL ADVANTAGES CLAIMED. ! Alongside the King's Wharf this; morning was the British motorship King M.alcolm, a vessel which is of more than ordinary interest, in that she is built with two parallel corrugations along each side. These corrugations, or "blisters." as they are sometimes termed, extend 10 inches outward and run for two-thirds the length of the ship, tapering towards the bow and stern, and are below the vessel's load line. Although no definite information is available on the subject, it is thought that the construction of corrugatedsided vessels was first attempted after a steam yacht, which had been extensively damaged in a collision, "limped" back to port at a speed faster than she had ever attained before her smash. Examination in dry dock had shown that a dent had been made along one of the yachfs sides, and it had been proved that the flow of water along the dent gave her an increased speed. After the case of the yacht had received long consideration. " experiments began, and about 25 years ago the first steamer with corrugated sides was launched from the yards of Messrs. Furness, Withy and Company. West Hartlepool. First Motorship of Her Type. The King Malcolm, which arrived from Antwerp yesterday morning, is not the first vessel of her type to visit Auckland, the steamer Rio Claro. which was here about two years ago, having been of similar construction. She is, however, the first corrugated-sided motorship to airive at this port. In the construction of the King Malcolm which was built during last year to the order of the British Motorship Company, of London, the corrugations were made eight feet apart, the upper one being three feet below the motorship's load line. A sister ship, the King James, was also launched for the same company about December last. Economical Fueling. A number of advantages are claimed on behalf of corrugated sided ships, the most important being that they are more economical to run than their flat-sided sisters. In the case of the King Malcolm, seven and a-half tons of Diesel oil are used per day. This amount provides not only for the main propelling machinery, but also for the electric light plant and electric winches. The broad channels, or gutterways, between the corrugations guide the water from the motorship's bow direct to her single propellor. Thus, it is calculated, propellor slip is reduced to a minimum. Another claim in favour of corrugations is that they reduce rolling, increasing stability by acting as rolling chocks. In addition it is said that the "blisters" enable slightly more cargo to be carried. Not a Fair Test. On her recent voyage the Kii.g Malcolm cracked a cylinder after passing the Azores, and was compelled to proceed at reduced speed , to Colon. Repairs carried out at the canal port caused the vessel" to be detained eleven days, and unfavourable weather was then experienced in the Pacific. Thus, under the above circumstances, the effectiveness of the corrugations was not fairly tested.