LIBERTY SHIP REPLACEMENT

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 5

LIBERTY SHIP REPLACEMENT

During the Second World War, shipyards in the United States and Canada turned out several thousand mass-pro-duced cargo ships of standard design to help keep open the supply lifeline to Europe. They were known as Liberty ships. After more than a quarter of a century’s yeoman service, these vessels are now ageing and obsolete, and for many of their owners the time has come to buy anew. They are looking for a practical allpurpose freighter, up-to-date in design and equipment, cheap to buy but reliable, economical to run, and with ample cargo space. With these requirements in mind, a leading British shipbuilding firm. Austin and Pickersgill of Sunderland, has designed an attractive replacement—known as the 5.D.14. Talking to Derek Blizard, in a 8.8. C. broadcast the designer of the 5.D.14, Mr H. H. Dunn, said the greatest advantages of the new ship are economy of fuel and water

consumption and her vastly improved hold capacity.' A two-deck vessel of 14.200 tons dead weight, she has an average speed of between 14 and 15 knots. She is normally fitted with a five-cylinder Sulzer diesel, but can be powered by any well-tried engine. An important feature is the gyro-compass incorporating major advances over previous standards, and another improvement is the housing of the combined electric and hydraulic systems in a single console on the bridge, enabling change of steering to be carried out by a single handoperated lever. A high standard of accommodation for the crew has also been taken into account.

In the same broadcast one of the shipbuilders’ directors, Mr Charles Longbottom, added that as well as the competitive price—just under £1 million, with flexible terms—delivery dates should also be attractive, as the prototype just launched was built in fourteen weeks.