ENGLAND TO, AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18663, 20 March 1924, Page 9

ENGLAND TO, AUSTRALIA

MOTOR-SHIP SERVICE. NINETEEN DAYS' JOURNEY. PASSENGERS, - MAILS AND - CARGO. According to information received last week in Sydney, " tenders have been invited in England for' the construction of several motor-ships intended for a new service between ' England ; arid Australia. The vessels will have provision' for 'both passenger and cargo traffic," also for re-, frigerated produce. A' movement has been on foot for some time in England to construct fast motorships ' for a new service to Australia, "but the calling •of tenders for the new vessels is 'the first definite step reported. It appears that'a new company will control {he services, and ' Sir Joseph W. Isherwood,- who is acting as naval architect, has invited the tenders. It is not yet known whether any orders have been placed,' or whether any decision has : been made. Sir Joseph W. Isherwood, however,; is a . very ; well known British ship designer, having been from 1896 until 1907- shipwright ; surveyor to Lloyd's Register. ' He has gained high reputation as the inventor of the Isherwood system of longitudinal ship construction. It is considered that the" new .service is connected with some interesting proposal made recently by Sir- John Biles, senior partner in Sir J. H. Biles and Company. Sir John ■ has enjoyed extensive practice in naval architecture, and was, from 1891' to 1921, professor of Naval Architecture at Glasgow University. Sir John Biles submitted proposals for utilising £0-knofc •. motor passenger vessels which could land mails from London -in Australia in 19 days. - -The suggested type of vessel is 700 ft. in length, with 30ft. draught, equipped with triple screw machinery capable of developing 27,0C0 horse power. Accommodation would be provided for about 400 - saloon and • 2000 steerage * passengers, and for about : 1000 tons of cargo. A motor - liner of : that size, he estimated, would use 120. tons of oil . fuel a : day compared with a daily' consumption of 450. tons of coal in a steamer making the same speed, or ■ with a consumption of " 250 tons 'of ' oil , by oil-burning steamers. ' The motor vessel woulcj save 50 per cent. 1 in the fuel bill,, compared with the oil-burning steamer, besides having two or three times the steaming _ radius ; for a ! given weight of fuel. Sir John, Biles estimates that with - six such ships maintaining a' fortnightly service, the subsidy required would be £450,000 compared with the present cost,, of £260,000. • ■ __________ •