MAIDEN VOYAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 13

MAIDEN VOYAGE

NEW ITALIAN LINER

GYROSCOPE STABILISER

ROME, Sth..November.

. The Conte di Savoia, sister ship of the 50,000-ton super Italian liner Rex, which left Genoa on her maiden voyage to New York at the end'of September, but' met with a mishap and put into Gibraltar, will resume the trip to America on 30th November. She challenges with lavish luxury and striking decoration all the existing, floating palaces, while the owners guarantee that her stabiliser will end .seasickness. ."•'■

This stabiliser cost £500,000, and was built in England. It consists of three gyroscopes, one of which works when the sea is moderate, and three when it is rough. Each has a fly-wheel 13ft in diameter, weighing 175 tons, and each is driven by a 560 horse-power engine. The stabiliser is based on the principle that a succession of waves is required to create a violent roll, so that the stabiliser needs only to counteract the force of, a single wave to prevent a roll developing., When the wave impulse comes in contact with .the side of the ship the stabiliser applies its righting force.

As the impulse passes under the keel the gyroscopes reverse its.force and restrain the ship from rolling the other way. It is affirmed that even in the roughest "sea the vessel's roll will not exceed five degrees. The' Conte di Savoia . is of 48,500 tons, and will accommodate more than 2000 passengers. Her equipment includes a motor garage that will accommodate 30 cars. There are also two padded cells for insane passengers.