ANOTHER LEVIATHAN LINER.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14686, 7 June 1913, Page 13

ANOTHER LEVIATHAN LINER.

LAUNCH OF THE AQTJITANIA.The gigantic liner Aquitania, built by Messrs John Brown and Co., Ltd., at Clydabank, for tho Ounard Line, was successfully launched on April 21st, the naming ceremony bcin;? performed by tho Countess of Derby. From her first perceptible movement, until the Aquitania entirely waterborno, only 80 seconds elapsed. The contract for the building of the Aquitania wa3 signed in December, 1910, and the keel plates were laid in June, 1911, so that she took 22J months to bring her to the launching stage of construction. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. The principal dimensions of the leviathan are:—Length, 901 feet; beam, 97 feet; depth, to boat dock, 92 feet G inches; gross tonnage, ■17,000 tons. She is designed for a epeed of 2a knots, and to carry 3250 passengers and a crow of 1000 men. The Aquitania may b« described as a ship within a ship, or, in other "words, her hull haa two shells, an inner as well as an outer shell, both being watertight. Tho space between the outer and inner skins averages about 15 feet, and at short intervals there are bulkheads dividing the epaoe into relatively small compartments. Any fracture of tho outer shell due to collision will, therefore, result in the inroad of tho Eca being limited to a email area at the side of tho ship. For additional safety, there are 16 watertight bulkheads extending right athwartship, and the system of watertight docks introduced into the construction of tho Lusitania and Mauretania_ has been further developed in the Aquitania, which is fitted also with anti-rolling tanks. PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION. The passenger accommodation will be provided on a scale commensurate with tho great size of the ship, and will be of unparalleled magnificence. The first-class public rooms will include drawing-room, hall and galleries, loungo, smoking, room, ajid verandah cafes on "A" Deck, and Foyer, restaurant, grillroom, and dining saloon on "D" deck. There will a!ro be a gymnasium and a swimming bath. The second-clrss public rooms include, draw-ing-room, lounge, smoking room and dining saloon. There are altogether eight decks for pnHSong'er accommodation. An instal'.ation of lifeboats sufficient to accommodate every person on board, and two motor lifeboat*, will be provided.