A SHIP WITHOUT A RUDDER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22390, 2 May 1938, Page 9

A SHIP WITHOUT A RUDDER

NEW STYLE OF PROPELLER USED

(air-isi OFFICIAL WIESLSBS.) (Received May 1, 9 p.m.)

RUGBY, April 30.

An interesting feature of the new southern railway ferry boat for the conveyance • of. holiday-makers, motor-cars, and other vehicles and merchandise from Lymington to the Isle of Wight is that : j . is equipped with Voith-Schneider propellers which enable her to move forwards, backwards, obliquely or broadside o? as required. She bas propellers at each end, but no rudder, being c'-ered by her propellers. [The Voith-Schneider type of propeller has not Previously been used on a vessel to operate regularly in Brliicu waters There are two propellers, one aTeach end of the ship, with controls from the bridge pedestal operating direct on them, and so varying the direction and force of thrust. An sddltional control lever Will. m harness the two propellers s° that their thrusts can be placed athwartships on the same side and give a purely lateral movement to the vessel. Rudders are unnecessary. The vessel hasa length overall of 148 ft, and breadth of 36ft Sin. with 9ft depth, and aspeedofll knots. There is accommodation for 400 passengers and 10 to 20 motor-cars. There are two sets of Diesel engines, Jach of 200 b.h.p.. designed to work at 600 to 700 r.p.m.. which drive the pro pellers at approximately 230 r.p.m. Another vessel similarly eauipped is the South Steyne, just built for the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company. Ltd... of .Sydney, Australia which will maintain a service of 17 knots between Sydney . and Manly beach, and will, it is claimed, be the fastest ferry in the British Empire.]