SHIPS & THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 10

SHIPS & THE SEA

SHIP MANOEUVRING APPARATUS.

_ A successful demonstration of an invention by Dr. X Ito, manager of the engine works of the Mitsu Bishi Dockyard' and Engine Works, Nagasaki, which, enables the master of a steamer to- navigate and control the vessel entirely from th© bridge, hasbeen given at Nagasaki. The demonstration was given on board the salvage steamer Oura Ma.ru, and the Nagasaki Press states that, instead of giving instructions to the officers in the engine-room -when the masfcor wished any alteration to be made in speed, or for starting or stopping the engine, the master did the work himself by means of the device under trial, which is termed "The Ship Manoeuvring- Apparatus.'1 The trial lasted three hours, and the invention did all that was claimed for it. Dr. Ito was granted a .patent by the Japanese Government on 18th January, 1912, and patent rights have been secured by him in Great Britain, the United States, and France. The declared object of the apparatus is to enable the captain or navigator to manipulate the ship from the bridge— at his own will to move, turn, or stop - the ' principal engine. Hitherto the navigator has had to give orders to the engine-room staff by means of the engine-room telegraph, the engi.neerin charge' acting in accordance with the instructions given from the bridge. Dr Bo's invention abolishes the engineer-ln-oharge as well as the telegraph, the navigator being able ..to regukto valves or reverse engines himself. An important saving of time is thereby effected, as the engineer has to look carefully at'the .telegraph indicator before obeying the command from the bridge Another important consideration is the prevention of misunderstanding _ and error Disputes often arise in collision cases, wrecks, and other maritime disasters as to the exact orders given to the engine-room and the time which elapses before the orders are obeyed. This apparatus effectually disposes of such disputes, and throws the entire responsibility upon the navigator. _ Racing" of the engines in bad weather is difficult to prevent under . tho conditions which now generally obtain in steamships, but the bridge control apparatus enables the navigator to adjust the engines when big Waves are encountered thus reducing- the_ risk of, accident to a minimum. Sometimes accidents occur in engine-rooms, .and there is difficulty, or risk, m entering to stop the engines, but control from the bridge puts an end to this also. The apparatus is worked by electricity, but a defect in it would not imperil the ship, as it is easily detachable, and the engines could bo worked in the ordinary way. It-is believed that Dr. Ito'g invention will be of gteot value in navies for fleet manoeuvres, as it will m possible _ for navigators to maintain distancos with far greater accuracy and ease than undeT existing conditions. The Oura Ma.ru, on which the test was successfully made, is fitted with reciprocating engines, but it is understood that the apparatus can be more easily applied in vessels fitted with turbine engines.