FIRST ELECTRIC LINER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1928, Page 2

FIRST ELECTRIC LINER.

LAUNCHED' AT GLASGOW. LONDON, Sept. 21. What is described' as “the ship of the .year,” the new P. and O. finer Viceroy of India, was launched from the Lintliouse yard of Messrs Alexander Stephen and Sons, at Glasgow, by Lady Irwin, on .September 15. The new liner, which is of 10,000 tons burden, will be propelled by twin electric motors of 18,000 horse-power, and turbo-electric generators taking high pressure steam from water tube boilers burning oil fuel. The new vessel will be lighted by Diesel motor generators, and will be electrically heated. Stability was made the subject of a special clause in the 'balloting contract, and it is -expected that the vessel will be very steady in a seaway.. Klie electric system of propulsion -should make her free from the vibration and noise usually associated with .reciprocating engines or with gearing. She is 610 feet long, and has a breadth of 80 feet and a depth of 82 feet. Her lines are the outcome of model experiments in the National Experimental Tank at Teddington, carried out under the personal supervision of Viscount Inchcape, chairman of the P. and O. Company. | There are 415 single berth cabins for saloon passengers, and the staterooms each have a private bathroom. In addition to the public rooms, there is a children’s room and a 24 foot swimming bath; 258 passengers can be carried in the second class, most of the cabins being fitted for two persons. Separate quartern are provided l for ayahs, the Indian nurses who often accompany European mistresses on voyages between India and Britain. I Presiding at the luncheon after the launching ceremony, Mr F. J. Stepheu' (chairman of the builders’ company) proposed the health and prosperity of tli© new ship, which, be - said, was the first passenger liner built -in Europe with the system of turbo-electric machinery. By .adopting the electric drive and the principle of single berth rooms, Lord Inchcape and the P. and O. Company had shown their progressive spirit, and he was sure their enterprise would be rewarded, for the vessel should 'be the most comfortable passenger ship of her size afloat. When they saw what had been done in this case for the comfort of passengers they were led to think of the wonderful advance made in that direction within living memory. The public, he thought, had accepted all the improvements in recent years, all the elaborateness of a modern liner, without reflecting on the immense amount of detail work which was expended.® Lord Inchcape, who replied, said he expected the ship would be in commission on the London-Bombay service in the early spring. In making the passenger accommodation arrangements they had in view that, barring accidents the vessel would be on service for the next 25 years, and that even after that .she would not be considered i out of date. Lady Irwin, who was on the eve of j returning to India (where her husband is Viceroy), was presented with a gift bowl as a souvenir of the launch.