A FAST PASSAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 75, 25 September 1937, Page 11

A FAST PASSAGE

NEW MOTOR-LINER

SUSSEX FROM LIVERPOOL

The P. and O. Steam Navigation Company's new motor-liner Sussex, now en route from Liverpool to Auckland, is nearing the completion of what promise, to be one of the fastest passages yet made between the two port's. The Sussex, with cargo to the agency of the Federal Steam Navigation Co., left Liverpool on August 28 for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff to discharge, and is due at Auckland on the afternoon of September 29. If she is not delayed by heavy weather she will have completed the passage in thirty-two days.

The Sussex is the second of the two motor-liners which were recently built by Messrs. John Brown and Co. for the New Zealand service. The other, the.Essex, was in Wellington recently. Both ships, which have large refrigerated spaces, are of the shelter-deck type, and are of about 11,000 tons gross, the principal dimensions being: Length b.p. 530 ft; breadth, 70ft; and depth, 47Jft. The propelling machinery consists of two sets' of opposed piston oil engines, the horse-power per engine being 6500 at 120 r.p.m. These units, it is interesting to note, are the highest of the type so far constructed.

The record for the outward passage from the United Kingdom to New Zealand is held by the Union Company's liner Awatea, which made the trip from Greenock to Wellington in 28 days 11 hours 10 minutes. ' The fastest time between New Zealand and England for a cargo vessel was established by the Australia Star, which completed the trip between Port Chalmers and London in 28 days 12i, hours. The Australia Star broke the former record of 32J days which was held by the Sultan Star.