ARCFORM TANKER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 274, 15 August 1936, Page 12

ARCFORM TANKER

Motorship G. S. Walden NOTABLE OIL-CARRIER Due at Wellington To-day More than ordinary interest attaches to the tanker G. S. Walden, which Is expected to arrive at Wellington this morning from Palembang, Sumatra, via Auckland, to discharge a part cargo of motor-spirit. This tine ship, which is over 505 feet in length and has a gross register of 10.627 tons, has tlie distinction of being the first bulkoil carrying vessel built to what is known as the Arcform design of hull. This design, which has attracted widespread interest in the shipping world, is claimed to give better carrying capacity and greater speed on a lower fuel consumption than ships of identical size and power built to the conventional cargo-ship plan. The structural arrangements of the G. S. Walden were designed by Sir Joseph Isherwood, who developed the Arcform principle of ship construction. The ship was built under the special survey of Lloyd's Register, the Isherwood bracketless system being adopted. The G. S. Walden was built by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, of Holland, for the Standard Vacuum Oil Company of New York, but she flies the British flag, her port of registry being Hong-Kong. Thus the ship may be said to have a truly international character. Merits of Arcform Design. The principal feature of the Isher--wood Arcform design is a radical change in the contour of the midship section of the ship, the whole of the lines, and in particular those of the middle-body portion, being modified to suit this alteration. Briefly, it may be said that the midship section is given a much rounder form than is usual in cargo-carrying ships, whicli in general have a box-like shape. In the Arcform ship, the bilge is well rounded and the arc is carried through to the topsides which have a pronounced “tumble-home” above the load waterline. The principal dimensions of the G. S. Walden, which is the largest oiltanker so far built in Holland, are: Length (overall), 505 feet; length (b.p.l, 455 feet; maximum breadth (moulded), 74 feet 10 inches; breadth (moulded) at upper deck. 73 feet 2 inches; deptli (moulded). 37 feet: oil cargo capacity, 699,000 cubic feet: deadweight capacity, 15,420 tons: load draught. 30 feet 4| inches: gross register, 10.627 tons; net register, 6292 tons; designed speed. 124 knots: brake horse-power at 124 knots, 3200. Except for her special design, the G. S. Walden is practically a sister ship to the W. B. Walker, which has twice visited Wellington. The accommodation for the officers and crew is of a high standard. The master and navigating officers are housed above the bridge deck amidships, where quarters are also provided tor a doctor, a purser and a wireless operator. The engineers are accommodated aft on the poop deck, and the seamen and others hands in, roomy quarters in tlie poop.