SPEEDY VESSEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 3

SPEEDY VESSEL.

BLUE STAR SHIP.

NINE INSULATED HOLDS.

FIRST VISIT TO DOMINION. The second of the Blue Star Line ships to call at Auckland for produce for England under the new arrangement with the produce boards is berthed at the Central wharf. The Star is the most speedy vessel of the line's fleet of 30, and she made the voyage from London to Napier in 29 days 20 minutes' steaming time, one day 17 hours faster than the record trip made by the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Mataroa. The first vessel to load recently was the Tuscan Star, which left Wellington on December 2. and arrived in London on Saturday. The Tuscan Star and the Sultan Star are similar in design, but the former is a motor ship, whereas the other is steam driven, and is of 12,300 gross tonnage, compared with the Tuecan Star's 11,449 tons. On her trials the Sultan Star made 17 knots, though on her present voyage out the average speed was 10.31 knots. This is the vessel's first trip to the Dominion. Before making her present voyage the Sultan Star was engaged in the Argentine-England trade. She hae nine holds, which are insulated throughout, and the number of decks in the holds vary. There are five decks in Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 7 holds, six decks in No. 4 hold, four decks in Xo. 8 hold, and two decks in No. 9 hold. The total space for the carriage of refrigerated cargo is 627,000 cubic feet, divided into 87 different compartments, which range in size from 14,000 ft to 72,000 ft. For the carriage of fruit and cheese she has 160,000 cubic feet of air-cooled epace. According to advice from England, the Blue Star Line has placed an order with Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for two large twin-screw motor ships, each of 13,000. tons, with a sea speed of 16 knots. The vessels are to be s]">ft in length, 70ft in width, and 43ft 6in in depth. In addition to general cargo, they will have a large amount of refrigerated epace for the carriage of chilled beef, dairy produce, frozen meat, fruit and other perishable cargoes. One of the new vessels will be delivered to the company next December, and the other will be ready a few weeks later.