A NEW SHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 10

A NEW SHIP

THE PORT CHALMERS

VISIT TO WELLINGTON

The first of nine motor-freighters ordered for the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, the Hew liner Port Chalmers, arrived at Wellington today on her first visit and berthed at the Glasgow Wharf opposite to the Port Alma, another ship of the same lino. In many ways the Port Chalmers is a notable vessel, not only because she is the .first of a large number of ships now being constructed in British shipyards for use in the Australian and New Zealand trade, but because she embodies many new and outstanding features. .

The Port Chalmers is a twin-screw motor-ship and was built by Messrs. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson at Wallscnd, being specially designed and equipped for service in the meat, fruit, and dairy produce trade. The Common wealth and Dominion Line had found the Doxford type of motor-engine a great success in some of their ships, and this type of machinery was installed in the Port Chalmers. The new ship has a length of 486Jft, a breadth of 65Jft, and a gross tonnage of 8535, the deadweight carrying capacity being just over 11,600 tons.

Built to Lloyd's Eegister highest class and Board of Trade requirements, the ship has amidships on the shelter' and bridge decks excellent accommoda-! tion for crew and twelve- passengers. The passengers' quarters are simply and effectively panelled in walnut," the cabins being large'and, airy, the bathrooms spacious, and all appointments being most tastefully selected. There is one large stateroom for two people, I m walnut and pear, a particularly attractive piece of work.- In addition to a large dining-room panelled in French walnut with a cream-coloured frieze, there is a smoke-room done in black bean wood, the upholstery being of green leather. The senior officers'" accommodation is arranged in the saloon deckhouse. The captain's rooms are in a steel house above the bridge deck, and 'consist "of a spacious sitting-room en suite with a bedroom and bathroom. The engineers and junior officers have their quarters in deckhouses along the machinery 'casing on the bridge deck. The greasers , and donkeyman have their quarters on the upper deck aft, and the firemen in a honse in the forecastle. • ■~..• REFRIGERATION MACHINERY. The ship has sis holds, five of which, along with the between-deeks, are insulated for the carriage of perishable produce. *The insulated spaces have a capacity of 465,000 cubic feet. The refrigerating machinery was supplied by J. and E. Hall, Ltd., Dartford. The owners met with no little success in carrying chilled beef from New Zealand in the motor-ship Port Fairy early last year, and this trade is to be developed by. the Port Chalmers. While the ship was at Lyttelton she took on board a quantity of beef carcasses to .be chilled, and further carcasses will be shipped at Wellington before she leaves for London towards the end of next week.- - . '

Provision has been, made in certain compartments to render them as far as possible gastight, for the carrying of fruit and dairy produce. .- The six main hatches are served by 18 electric winches wfirked in conjunction with derricks having lifts'of up to 15 tons, and, in addition, there is a large boom oh the foremast to.lift 50 tons. The deck machinery' is driven by electricity. The ' windlass and capstans were supplied by Clarke, 'Chapman, and Co., Gateshcad,: and^'the winches by Laurence Scott and Electric Motors, Ltd., of Norwich. The steering gear is of the electric hydraulic type, "Hele Shaw. Matineau" system controlled by a hydraulic-. telemotor front the whcelhouse. • ■ Electric welding has been substituted for riveting in many parts of the ship, sucli as the main transverse water--tight bulkheads, deckhouses, the divisional bulkheads to service tanks, skylights, and oil fuel bunkers! . THE ENGINES. The two main engines of tho Port Chalmers were built by Messrs. Barclay, Curie, and Co., at the North British Engine Works, Glasgow. The shipbuilders supplied all the auxiliaries and other engineroom equipment. The main engines are of the reversible opposed piston, two-stroke cycle, airless injection, Barclay Curle-Ddxford type, each driving a scavenging pump from the main engine. The two engines gn«s a collective horse-power of 85*00.' Each engine has four cylinders!, 640 mm diameter, with a stroke of 2480inm. The ship is designed for a speed :of 15J knots at a draught of about 27ft, with engines running at 96 revolutions per minute. _ .. . ' ■. Oil fuel is carried in the dbublebottoni and in tanks on each side of the cngineroom and at the side of the funnels. There are three electric generators run by Diesel oil engines supplied by "W. H. Allen Sons ana Co., of Bedford. They supply power to the winches, capstans, "windlass, steering gear, and all auxiliary machinery, as well as for lighting the ship' throughout. The Port Chalmers js commanded by Captain S. "W. Hayter, previously in command of the Port Alma. -