NEW MOTOR-SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 5

NEW MOTOR-SHIPS

REFRIGERATING SPACE

NEW ZEALAND TRADE

Advice was received in AVellington today that A Testey's are going ahead with plans for entering the Australian and New Zealand shipping trade with the Blue Star Line, and that orders have been placed for two new motorships, embodying all the' latest ideas of construction. In conjunction with other ships of the line, they will trade regularly with Australia and the Dominion. The new vessels will be of 15,000 tons and will have a service speed of 17 knots, being probably the largest in the refrigerated trade. It is hoped that they will be ready for service in October next year. They are to be fitted with the latest facilities to ensure dependable carriage of chilled beef, and their speed should enable them' to maintain a fast time-table. THE FEDERAL ORDER. Further details have been received concerning the rcceut order by the Federal Steam Navigation Company for two large motor-freighters. A special feature of the new ships will be the amount of cargo ' space reserved for refrigerated produce. Of a total hold space of 722,000 cubic feet, 462,000 cubic feet will be insulated' for refrigeration, for which three electric generating sets willbe provided. Cargohandling arrangements will embody all the most modern features, and each ship will be equipped with, twenty derricks of capacities varying from five to thirty tons. This will make rapid loading and unloading possible. : The main propelling machinery will consist of two .reversible Doxford air-less-injection, opposed piston, balanced oil-engines of five cylinders. Equipment will include the latest monitor and other warning devices, giving visible and audible indication of any failure of pressure in the engineroom, refrigerated holds, and elsewhere. Exhaust gases from the engines will be utilised to operate a waste heat boiler for heating purposes and to drive a generating set. All electrical equipment will be designed to comply with the latest regulations of the Institute of Electrical Engineers and other official standards. It is intimated that the new vessels will represent a substantial advance from the motor-ships Otaio, Orari, and Opawa, which were placed in the Australian and New Zealand services two years ago.