TURBINE STEAMERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 137, 9 December 1908, Page 3

TURBINE STEAMERS.

THE OTAKI ON TRIAL. SOME LARGE EXPERIMENTS. (From Our Own Correspendent.) LONDON, 30th October. This week the combination steamer Otaki, which has been built at Dumbarton by Messrs. Denny for the New Zealand Shipping Company, is running her tiials on ths Clyde. Special 1 interest attaches to the event, "for the reason that thu vessel in tho first, merchant steamer to be fitted with low-pressure steam turbines in conjunction with reciprocating engines. In point of fact, similar trials are being carried out with the yacht Emerald, owned by Sir Christopher Furness, M.P., in which the propelling machinery has been modified to demonstrate the combined system. But the Emerald, which was built in 1903, is a yacht ot only 984 gross tons, whereas the Otaki is of 7200 tons gross register. She in turn will be outclassed in point of size by the Laurcntic, the new White Star-Dominion boat, built by Messrs. Harland and Wolff, and launched some little while back. The Lauren tic is not ready for her trials, so that immediate interest centres in tho Otaki, which is before very long to sail upon her maiden vu\age to Nc^v Zealand. The Telegraph says : ''The object of combining* low-pressure steam turbines with reciprocating engines ih. of course, effect greater economy in the use of steam, and to reduce the consumption ot fuel. Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that, prior to this new development, the total tonnage of turbine steamers classed with Lloyd's Register amounts to 165,922 tons, according to the latest report, or twice the figures for the previous year. One of the most noteworthy instances of resort to the turbine principle is afforded by the Tenyo Maru, of 13,454 gross tons, built at the Mitsu Bishi Dockyard, Nagasaki, for the Toyo Kisen Kaisha. The vessel, fitted to burn liquid fuel, is not only the largest yet constructed in Japan, but is the first so built in which turbine machinery has been installed. Two sister turbine vessels are also in course of construction in the same yard, and are likewise intended for classification by Lloyd's Register. Thus, apart from the Lusitania, Mauretania, and Carmania, Japan will be able to boast possession of the three largest merchant turbine steamers in the world." > THE S.S. TAINUL The Sluiw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamer Tainui is giving full satisfaction. As was stated a fortnight ago would be the case, she left the builders' yard at Belfast on Saturday week. She had a steam trial on Belfast Loch, but the weather was haay c*nd the points could not be seen. The same afternoon sho left for Cardiff, where she arrived on Sunday. After coaling she sailed for London on Thursday, arriving at Gravesend early on Saturday. Her engines, on the run, had not to De stopped" once, and she did a little over 14 knots, with an occasional 15 knots. Captain Moffatt, late of the Mamari, has been placed in command, and Mr. Arthur is the chief engineer.