A MOTOE LINER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17942, 18 November 1921, Page 5

A MOTOE LINER.

REVOLUTION IN SHIPPING. BRITAIN LEADS WAY. It is hoped to carry out at an early date the trials of the first motor passenger liner to fly the flag of Britain or any other country. This vessel, the Domala, has been built ou the Clyde for tho British India Line's service between London and Calcutta, and her performances will be watched with great interest by tho shipping world. At one time it seemed probablo that Messrs. Elder, Dempster, and Company would have the distinction of sending to sea the pioneer Dieseldriven passenger ship, but the conversion of this vessel, the Aba, formerly one of tho Glen Lino's cargo boats, has been delaved by labour and other troubles. Tho Domala, and two sister ships which are building, will have a gross tonnage of 9000, and will have accommodation for 135 first and second-class passengers. Two motors with a combined horse-power of 4660 will give a speed of 13 knots on a fuel consumption of slightly under 16 tons of oil per 24 hours. Taking the price of oil at £5 per ton, tho daily fuel bill wiE work out at about £80, whereas a steamer of similar size would consume about 65 tons of coal a day, which at 30s a ton represents a fuel bill of £97 10s. Tho advantages of the motor ship by no means end here. While a steamer must replenish her bunkers at frequent intervals-a long and dirty job, as all , ocean voyagers are aware-the motor yes'sel can carry sufficient fuel od in her double bottom for a round voyage. On the North Atlantic service it is a matter of indifference to the passenger whether bis ship is coal or oil-fired, as the bunkering is done before he goes on board. But !on Eastern vovages the replenishment of coal bunkers is a trying and vexatious i experience, the coal dust penetrating to saloons and staterooms and making promenades unusable until they have been thoroughly cleansed. When tho Domala is fuelled a'l that will be necessary will bo the connection of the bunker tanks with a shore reservoir or an oil barge by rr.er.is of flexible oil pipes, through which the oil will bo quickly and quietly pumped. . Another great advantage lies in the fact that the motor-driven ship has no boilers, smaller engine-room spaces, and can dispenso with funnels. The result is that there is more internal space available in the best part of the ship for passenger accommodation, and also more cxtensivo promenades, relatively unenj cumbered by ventilators. 1 hough the | superior economies of the Diesel engine have been recosrnised for some years, lis, use j marks such a" revolution in ship propulsion that owners and builders, have been, somewhat conservative in their adoption of the internal combustion engine. Within the next few years there should be quito a considerable fleet of mote passenger vessels in commissi on.- Apau tenanted, three at least, a«.unto cc struction in Italy or „ the .f vice; both m gd mark plans have been prepared w passenger 3 "