LINER OTRANTO

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 5

LINER OTRANTO

NEW TWIN SCREW VESSEL The Otranto is the third large passenger vessel recently built for the Orient Steam Navigation Company, Ltd. The other two—the Orama, also built at Barrow, and the Orousay, constructed at Clydebank—are already in commission, and, by the popularity they have attained, have justified the progressive policy upon which the Orient Company have embarked. These three vessels form not only valuable adjuncts to the fleet of the company, but also notable additions to the mercantile marine of the British Empire. SALOON AND FOYER.

The first class dining saloon has seating, accommodation for 260 passengers, whilst fifty more passengers' can dine in the foyer forward of the main .saloon —all at small tables arranged for two to eight people. The saloon has a length of 72ft, and extends for the full width of file ship. A light and airy spaciousness is achieved by the addition of a large well in the deck space above, wide pilasters running up the full height support the central portion, and have panels of classic figures in bronze between. The room is designed in a free English classic manner, and in tones of grey and cream. The foyer is designed in character with the dining saloon, so that it can be used on occasion as an additional dining space, the total seating accommodation being over SOU. ROOMS AND CAFF.. The reading and writing room is 32ft long by 48ft in width, and having large bow windows on each side. This room is decorated in the Chinese style in the English manner, and the walls are in tones of blue and gold, with lacquer panels of Chinese .subjects.

The cafe at the head of the after stairway is 39ft long by 44ft wide, and acts as something between a dining saloon and a lounge. .Here one can obtain occasional light refreshments or find a place of shelter screened from wind and weather. This room is panelled in cedar en suite with the smoking room. The coiling is of Chinese vermillion, with beams of cedar, and the cafe’s bow windows form a distinctive feature.

The first class smoking room adjoins the cafe. It is 38ft long by 48ft wide, with bow windows on each side, and. a raised coach roof over the central portion. This room is beautifully panelled in unpolished cedar. The touches of gilt and the carving to the pilasters and cornices give it a rich and imposing appearance. The lounge is an exceptionally large room, 104 ft by 48ft wide, and has projecting bow windows port and starboard, and having also a raised coach roof over the forward half. The decoration hero is also in ilie English manner, with large panels in a grey-blue scheme of color, with columns and pilasters of yellowish scaglioli and ornaments in silver gilt. The dining saloon for the use of third class accommodation extends for a length of about 70ft across the whole width of the vessel. In addition, there is a lounge and smoking room 24ft and 33ft long respectively. CARGO PROVISIONS, ETC.

There are seven cargo hatches arranged three forward and four aft. These are served by nineteen cargo derricks, which are carried by the two masts, and six 'derrick posts placed suitably in regard to the hatchways. For serving the derricks sixteen cargo winches are provided, all of which are electrically driven.

Lifeboat accommodation is supplied for every person on the vessel. There is a total of' thirty-seven boats, of which two are motor driven, and fitted with wireless equipment. These motor boats are by the Seamless Steel Boat Company, Ltd., and are fitted with Gloniffer engines of 24/48 b.h.p. The majority of the boats are operated by Machlachhm patent gravity davits, of which type fourteen sets are installed. The remaining davits are of the Wei in. and Steward typos respectively. Electric boat winches are fitted for working the davits, thus ensuring speed and efficiency if emergency arises. All the boats are stowed at such a height above the deck that a clear space is provided out to the ship’s side rails.

Ventilation lias received the most thorough consideration, and all the most modern methods have been brought Into use. The Thcrraotank Company’s patent “Punkah Louvre” system lias been installed practically throughout, in addition lo other mechanical and natural means.

Hot and cold water scrivees, both fresh and salt, have been provided for the convenience of all passengers and the ship’s complement. As with, the Orama and Oronsay, a special feature of the first, class accommodation is the great proportion of single-berth cabins. The vessel is to bo propelled by twin screws, driven by two sets of Parson turbines and single reduction gearing. Each set comprises one high pressure, one intermediate, and one low pressure turbine, working in series and driving separate pinions engaging with the main gear wheel. The high pressure turbine is of the impulse reaction type, while the remainder of this turbine comprises tour expansions of reaction blading. The intermediate pressure turbine is of the reaction type. The first stage of the h.p. astern turbine is incorporated in the intermediate cylinder. The low pressure turbine is of the single flow type, the remainder of tho astern turbines being incorporated in the l.p. casing. All turbines run at 1,1171? r.p.m.. while the propellers run at f)o r.p.m. The total shaft horse-power developed is about l’(l, 1)00. When running astern the power developed is approximately <0 per cent, of the ahead power. The turbines are connected by flexible couplings to nickel steel pinions, which engage with the main wheels on the propelled shafts; the gearing is of the double helical type, the main wheels consisting of east iron centre parts, with forged steel rings shrunk on. The steam generating installation consists of six double-ended and four single-ended boilers of the ordinary multi-tubular return tube type, ar-

ranged in two compartments working under IJoivik'ii's .system ol lorcml draught, ami designed lor a working pressure ol 2151 b per square inch. All the boilers are IGit (im mean diameters, while the length ol' the double-ended boilers is 22ft, and iliai of the singleended lilt 3in. .Each double-ended boiler is fit Led will) eight separate furnaces of the Mormon suspension type, and lias eight combustion chambers, the single-ended boilers have lour furnaces, and the same number of separate combustion chambers. The total heating surface is 50,544 square feet. The. furnaces aro arranged for oil burning only, and the Wallsend .llowdeu oil burning system is installed, with two main sets of pumping ami heating plant, comprising electrically driven pumps, and one small steam driven oil fuel pump for harbor duly. TONNAGE AND MEASUREMENT.

The Otranto has a gross tonnage of 20,000, a length of 658 ft, and is 75ft wide. Like the, other vessels of the Orient Line, the Otranto has been designed to carry two classes of passengers only, of which she will accommodate (500 in the first saloon, and 1,200 in ihe third class.