FIRST ELECTRIC LINER

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1928, Page 2

FIRST ELECTRIC LINER

“SHIP OF THE YEAR.”

LONDON, Sepember 21. What is described’ as “the ship of the year,” the new P. and O. line) Viceroy of India, was launched from the Linthouse yard of Messrs Alexander Stephen and Sons, at Glasgow, by Lady Irwin, on September 15. The new liner Which is ol 19,0(10 tons burden, will be propelled by twin electric motors of 18,600 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 as made the subject of a special clause in the balloting contraci' and it is expected that the vessel will be steady in a ‘seaway. The electric system of propulsion should make her free from the vibration and noise usually associated with reciprocating engines or with gearing gearing. She is 610 feet long, and lias 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 Teddingtori, carried out under the personal supervision of Viscount Inchcape, chairman of the P. and 0. Company. There 415 single berth cabins for saloon passengers, and the stateroom* each have a private bathroom. In addition to the public rooms, there is ■' children’s room and a 24 foot swimming hath; 258 passengers can be carried in tlic second class, most ol the cabins being fitted for two per i-mM Separate quarters arc provided for ayahs, the Indian nurses who -often accompany European mistresse* on voyages between India and Britain. ’

COMFORT OF PASSENGERS

Presiding at the luncheon after the launching ceremony, Mr F. J. Stephen (chairman of the builders’ company) proposed the health and prosperity of the new ship, . which, lie said, was the first passenger liner built in Europe with the system of turboelectric machinery. By adopting tlir electric drive and the ' principle of single berth rooms, Lord Triclicape am the P. and O. Company had shown their progressive spirit, and he was sure their enterprise would be rewarded, for the vessel should he the most comfortable passenger ship of her size afloat. When they saw what had* been done 'in ‘ this ease 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 passenger liner, without reflecting upon the immense amount of detail work which was expended. .

Lord l’nchapc, who replied, said he expected the ship would be in commission on the Lendon-Bombay service in the early spring. In making the passenger accommodation arrangements they had in view that, barring accidents, the vessel would be in service for the next 25 years, and that even after that she would not bo considered out of date.

Lady Irwin, wl l o is on the eve of returning to India (where her husband is Viceroy), was presented with a gift bowl as a souvenir of the launch.