AUCKLAND STAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1939, Page 12

AUCKLAND STAR

LAUNCHED AT BELFAST. BELFAST, June 22. The motor vessel Auckland Star, which Harland and Wolf launched this w-eek from their east yard, is the second of two fast refrigerated motor cargo liners w'hich they are building at Belfast for the Blue Star Line, Limited. A sister ship, the Wellington Star, was launched two months ago and is at present fitting out. The new liner is a striking example of the modern Empire “food” ship, and she will be a notable addition to the Blue Star Line, w'hich owns one of the largest and most efficient fleets of “food” ships in the world. Over 555 ft. in length overall, she lias a gross tonnage of 11,400, and is fully insulated for the carriage of perishable produce. Both the Auckland Star and her sister ship are 15ft. longer B.P. than the five liners of the Sydney Star class which Harland and Wolff built for the company in 1934-36, but they will otherwise be generally similar to the earlier vessels. They will be propelled by twin sets of Harland B. and W. six-cylinder two-stroke double-act-ing Diesel engines. The Auckland Star is a. twin screwmotor vessel of the shelter-deck type, built to Lloyd’s highest class and to the Board of Trade requirements, also Suex and Panama Canal and Factory Act requirements. She is finely modelled and has a raked rounded stem, cruiser stern, single mast and a, stream-lined funnel, which give her a smart and attractive appearance. There are three complete steel decks, also lower deck aft of the machinery space, poop, bridge and forecastle decks, boat deck, passenger deck and navigating bridge deck. in addition. to the cargo space there is accommodation for 12 passengers.