NEW MOTOR-LINER DUE HERE TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 146, 17 March 1934, Page 8

NEW MOTOR-LINER DUE HERE TO-DAY

C. & D. Co.’s Port Chalmers SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR CHILLED BEEF The twin-screw motor liner Port Chalmers, which is on her maiden voyage to the Dominion, and will arrive at Wellington to-day to complete loading for London, was specially designed and built .for the Commonwealth and Dominion Line by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Ltd., at Walls-end-on-Tyne. The Port Chalmers, which was the largest ship built In England last year, is the first of 10 new ships, aggregating 100,000 tons, now being built in Britain for various shipping lines for service in the New Zealand trade.

Specially equipped for the carriage of Empire dairy produce, meet, wool, and fruit, the Port Chalmers is a vessel of 8,535 gross tons, with a deadweight carrying-capacity of 11.610 tons. She is 486} feet long and 65 feet broad. She has six holds, five of which, together with the ’tween decks, are insulated to carry perishable produce, and the total insulated space is 465,000 cubic feet. The refrigerated chambers in the Port Chalmers have varied temperatures. Frozen meat is carried at a temperature of 12 degrees Fahr., chilled at 291 degrees Fahr., fruit at about 33 to 34 degrees Fahr., and cheese at 44 degrees. For carrying dairy and fruit produce the very latest devices are employed, with ventilating fans in every chamber. An interesting feature is the fact that the Port Chalmers Is the first ship specially equipped to carry, on a commercial scale chilled beef from New Zealand and Australia. This has been made possible by the construction of chambers for carrying beef in (O 02) gas—the process recently evolved by the department of scientific research at their low temperature station. In the Port Chalmers it will be possible to carry meat and deliver it in the condition in which It finds most favour in the British market. She is loading a shipment of chilled beef at Wellington. Eighteen electric winches serve the six main hatches, and the derricks are capable of lifting weights up to 15 tons. The Port Chalmers has also a larger derrick stepped on her foremast capable of raising 55 tons. All ally. Her steering gear is of the electroally. Her steering gear is of the elechydraulic telemotor from the wheelhouse. Main Propelling Machinery. The two main engines of the Port Chalmers were built by Bar relay, Curie and Co. at their North British Engine Works, Glasgow, and fitted on board at Wallseud. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson supplied all the auxiliaries and 'other engine-room equipment. The main engines are of the reversible opposed piston, twostroke cycle, airless Injection, Barclay, Curle-Doxford type, each driving a scavenging pump from the main engine. The two engines give a collec-tivehorse-power of 8500. Each engine has four cylinders 25.2 inches diameter, with a stroke of 56.7 inches. The Port Chalmers ,js designed for a speed of 15J knots. Oil fuel is carried In the double bottom and in tanks on each side of the engine-room and at the side of the funnels. Electric Welding. In the Port Chalmers electric welding has taken the place of riveting in the oil fuel bunkers, in the main transverse watertight bulkheads and in all the deckhouses and steel divisional, bulkheads, in the main generator seats, seating for various auxiliary machinery, for all the water service tanks, the skylights; masts, derrick posts and pillars. There are three electric generators run by Diesel oil engines supplied by W. H. Allen Sons and Co., of Bedford. They supply power to the winches, capstans, windlass, steering gear and all auxiliary machinery as well as for lighting the ship throughout. The steering gear is of the electric hydraulic Hele-Shaw-Martineau type.. The six main hatches are served by an ample equipment of winches and tier-' ricks. All the deck machinery is driven electrically. J. and T. Hall, of Dartford, supplied the latest carbon dioxide refrigerated machinery, and the brine grids. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line have successfully developed the trade of carrying chilled beef which will be . maintained by the Port Chalmers. It has been found that the introduction of C 02 gas into the holds enables chilled beef to be carried for a longer time. In the ’tween decks fruit will be carried, and the necessary ventilation Is secured by powerful rotary fans. Living Accommodation. Amidships is a steel deckhouse containing most commodious and comfortable accommodation for twelve passengers In four single and four double-berth staterooms, which are very handsomely panelled and furnished. All of them have hot and cold fresh water supplied to the wash-basins. The dining-room is a specially beautiful apartment panelled in French walnut with cream-coloured frieze. The smoke-room is panelled in black bean wood and the upholstery is of green leather. The senior officers’ accommodation is arranged in the saloon deckhouse. The captain’s rooms are In a steel house above the bridge'deck, and consist of a spacious sitting-room en suite with a bedroom and bathroom. The engineers and junior officers have their quarters in deckhouses along the machinery casing on the bridge deck. The greasers and donkeyman have their quarters on the upper deck aft and the firemen in a house in the forecastle. The Port Chalmers is commanded by Captain S. W.Uayter.