THE SMOKELESS LINER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 87, 25 March 1911, Page 11

THE SMOKELESS LINER

“It is very probable that within the next two years we shall seelarge vessels sailing the Atlantic, without funnels or boilers.” So says Mr. W. R. Ferguson, managing director of Messrs. Barclay, Curie, and Co,, shipbuilders, of Whiteinch. The sentence betokens an expectation of the almost immediate success of the oil-engined liner. What is more, this confidence is largely based upon an enterprise which the firm itself has in hand—the construction of an oil-engined ship of about 5000 tonsgross, driven by twin-screws, and having a speed of twelve knots*. As a rule, when shipbuilders are engaged in a new departure, they keep their own counsel. Mr. Ferguson’s frankness can only be interpreted as proof that his firm is employed on no mere experiment,, but that it sees its way from beginning to end. This new liner, which will have accommodation for a limited number of passengers, will be propelled by two sets of internal combustion engines of the Diesel type. Mr. Ferguson states that these engines will embody improvements which, have overcome initial difficulties connected with starting and reversing. The charge will be ignited by compression, and theengines can be started in five minutes. Another and smaller engine of the same' type will generate electricity, for the operation of winches, windlasses, and steeringgear, as well as for lighting the vessel. Steam, with its accompaniment of smoke, soot, and dirt,, w’ill simply be ignored. ' “ Not for British Owners.”

Some day, no doubt, a generation will look back with interest on prints of the funnelled, steamdriven vessel with which we are now so familiar. It is to be hoped' that it will not have to recall the; fact that we clung too conservatively to the old type. At present, however, the old-driven liner seems chiefly to occupy the attention of our foreign rivals. The ship to be built on the Clyde suggests the contrary, but as a matter of fact the announceinent is made that she is “not for British owners.” The vessel adds one more to the number of those which are being built on foreign accountApparently the effect of the venture is to indicate that this country can build smokeless liners quits as easily as they can do it on the Continent, but that the demand on the part of British owners has not yet arisen. However, something is achieved when it is shown that there is at least one firm in these islands which is actually producing an oil-engined liner of considerable tonnage. It is possible, of course, that appearances are deceptive, and that in reality there are several wellknown firms in this country,, who are quietly making advances. There have been many rumours ta that effect. It will not be forgotten, either, that Lord Furness made a rather important announcement on this subject a little while back. When the fact is recalled that in the matter of the marine, steam turbine, as with most other things, this country has altogether led the way, any apparent hesitation about the oil-engined ship can scarcely rest with the shipbuilder. Increased Earning Power. From the aesthetic standpoint the smokeless liner will have much to commend it. But it is the business aspect with which, the shipowner will be chiefly concerned. Will the oil-engined liner be more economical by reason of the lessened cost of fuel or by reason of the saving of cargo space and' labour ? Mr. Ferguson has afforded certain materials for' answering the question. The vessel being built at White inch will, he says, use the cheapest kind of oil—the sort that can be bought at present at from 34/- to 40/- per ton—and a. hundred tons will take her as far as 300 tons of coal. The space necessary for fuel will only be onefourth of that at present required for coal. With the opening of new oilfields in all, parts of the world, the price may, of course, come* down. But it is pretty obvious that the immediate great economy of the oil-driven liner lies in the saving of space, and the conse- ■ quent increase in freight-earning capacity. And this, no doubt, in the long run will mean still cheaper ocean carriage.