GIANT VESSELS OF OTHER YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 21

GIANT VESSELS OF OTHER YEARS

(By "Martingale.")

Mention was xnado last week that the C.G.T. liner Normandie was to have her gross measurement increased, and that, when this operation was done, sho would bo considerably larger than the Cunard-White Star Company Js No. 534, now building on the Clyde. Verification of this report has been received, and it is learnt that-the most recent official measurement <i£ the Normandie shows that-the original estimate of her tonnage has 'been greatly increased, being now 79,280 instead of 68,000. No. 534 's gross measurement is to be approximately 73,000 tons. The Normandie -is now structurally complete, down to the ■smallest detail; the engines have been installed and are ready for operation, nnd all that remains to be done is for the passenger quarters to be fitted out and decorated. Tho C.G.T.' have, issued a denial that they have made any major alteration to the ship's construction in order to increase' her1 size, and that their one desiro is to .build a vessel to suit their own requirements and trade, without reference to the size or speed of any other ship. So that is that, and, in the meantime, France has the honour —if honour it is—of owning tho largest ship in tho world. THE LITTLE GIANTS. Somewhat interested iv tho subject of giant vessels, I turned up the 1906----07 edition of "Lloyd's Eegister" and made a few discoveries which may not be known to many readers, especially those of tho younger generation. In, 1906 there were only 13 ships afloat which had a gross measurement of over 15,000 tons. The largest of them was of 24,581 gross tons. Below are set out a few salient points of interest concerning this distinguished thirteen:- — . Nation- Gross Year ality. Tons, built. Kaiserin ' Auguste ■Victoria .... Ger. 24,581 1905 Baltic- Br. 23,876 1903 Amorika Ger. 22,622 1905 Cedric Br. 21,035 1902 Celtic ;. Br. 20,904 1901 ■Minnesota ....... U.S.A. 20.718 1904 Dakota U.S.A. 20.714 19Q5 Caronla Br. 19,594 1905 Carminia ......... Br. 19,524, 1905 Kaiser Wilhelm II . Ger. 19,360 1902 Oceanic Br. 17,274 1899 Deiitschland Ger. 16,502 1900 Republic Br. 15i37S 1903 ■A noticeable point' in tho above details is that, with the exception of one vessel, the ships were all built this century, and also that Germany no loss than Britain was to the fore in ship construction.- The Kaiserin Auguste Victoria was built by tho "Vulcan" works. at Stettin for tho Hamburg Amerika Lino, her length being 677.5 ft and her beam 77.3 ft. The line also operated the Amerika and the Deutschland.

Tho Baltic, second on the list, was constructed by Harlandand Wolff, Ltd., at their. Belfast yards. Her .length was 709:2 ft and her beam 75.6 ft. She was owned by tho White Star Line, which also ran the Cedric, Celtic, Eopublic, and- Oceanic. Harland and Wolff also built the Amerika, Cedric, and Celtic. THE IMPERATOR. In the years between 1906 and 1913 notable advances were made in putting larger and faster ship's upon tho water. Those seven years saw the launching of quite a number^of giant liners -which are ; still iiv operation today. Among them may bo noted the Bcrengaria, Aquitania, i Olympic, and- Mauretania. The following details show the ships recorded ;in Lloyd's of 1913-14 whose gross; measurement ■ exceeded 20,000: tons:— '" : : Nation- " Gross ' When 1 "•• ' ■ ■-. '■ ■ ' allty.- ' Tons, built. rmperator Cier. 52,226 1912 Olympic Br. 4Q.439 1910 Aquitania ~...-... Br. 45,647 1913 Mauretania ...... Br. 31,938 1907 lusitania ■ ' Br. 31,550 1907 George Washington . Ger. , 27,000 1908 Kalserln Auguste' , . Victoria .... Ger- 24,581 1905 Adriatic ..i Br. 24,541 ■ 190S Kottcrdam ...... Hoi. 24,149 190S Baltic .....'.. Br. 25.R78 1903 Franca Br. '23,400 .1910 AmerlUa ...". Gcr. 22,022 1905 Cedric Br. 21.035 1902 TcVtlo Br. 20,901 1001 Slliincsota ....... U.S.A. 20.71S 1904 It will be seen that eight of the fifteen ships above- mentioned were British-owned. The Impcrortor, heading the list, became the property of the Cunard Line after tho war, being named the Bercngaria. In 1914 the HamburgAmerika .Line had built for them the Vaterland, which igave Germany the second largest ship in the world as well as the largest. The Vatorland subsequently became. the property .of the United States Line, and is now known as the Leviathan. The United States made, a bad bargain in accepting the Leviathan, for sho has contracted the annoying; habit of losing £.10,000 to £15,000 per voyage. In June last'she completed at. a loss of approximately £26,800, the first of the five trips required of her under a Government contract. ■ ■ • ..:■:.; .'■'

• Considering that thirty years ago the largest-ship'in seryieo was under 25,000 tons gross, one has justification in feeliiig some sens,e of wonder, coloured a little perhaps with a> shade of doubt, at" tiiQ "superships". ■Norma'ndio iin3 No. 534 which are/ Hearing- completion,

SOME NOTABILITIES RECALLED