NEW MOTOR-SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 16

NEW MOTOR-SHIP

EMHRE STAR'S VISIT MANY AIDS TO NAVIGATION WELL-EQUIPPED VESSEL Fitted with tho most modern facilities for handling and storing general and refrigerated cargo, tho latest appliances for assisting navigation, ajid luxurious passenger accommodation, the newest vessel of the Blue Star fleet, the motor-ship Empire Star, arrived from London on her maiden voyage yesterday. Tho Empire Star, "which was built bv Harland and'Wolff, Belfast, completed her trials at tho end of last; year, attaining tho fast speed of 19.2 knots. She is a vessel of 12.000 tons and has six insulated holds. From 15 to 20 chambers are available for the carriage of chilled beef.

Officers of tho ship are proud of her particularly well-fitted wlioclhouso cliartroom and wireless room. Jsavigational appliances include a gyro-com-pass, and a single unit gyro-pilot, or "iron mike," which holds the vesse' on her course automatically, and does away with tho need for a helmsman Tho instrument on the Empire Star proved very efficient on the trip to Now Zealand, and she was steered by this means until within half an hour of tho timo the pilot was picked up yesterdav morning. Depth-finding Apparatus Two echo-sounders, by which the depth of water below the ship up to 160 fathoms, can be read at a glance, are fitted. These instruments, with which most new ships aro being equipped, record the depth by means of an electrical impulse which is transmitted from the ship's bottom to the sea-bed. It is reflected back, and received by a delicate instrument beneath tho ship. From the time that elapses between tho sending and receiving of the impulse, tho depth is automatically calculated. Tho depths are indicated on tho instruments in the Empiro Star in one case by a spot of light on a scale and in tho other by a mark on a moving strip of paper, on which a record of the sea-bed over which the ship is passing is compiled.

The vessel carries automatic firedetecting apparatus, a short-wave wireless set and a radio telephone with a range of 500 miles. She has 23 elec-trically-driven derricks, the largest capable of a lift of 50 tons. She is driven by six-cylinder double-acting Diesel engines. Luxuries in Passenger Quarters

Travellers of a few years ago would not have believed that a ship built principally for cargo carrying would carry a baby grand piano in her saloon, yet this is only one of the many luxuries in tho passenger quarters of the Empire Star. The roomy and beau-tifully-furnished dining room and lounge are connected by glass sliding doors, while large windows look out on deck. There is also a card room, while modern cabin accommodation is provided for 12 passengers. Tho Empire Star averaged 15J knots on the run from London to Panama and 16$ knots from Panama to Now Zealand. The time taken on the voyage was lengthened, however, by calls at Jamaica for oranges and at Curacao for oil. A strong south-westerly swell, apparently caused by the storm encountered in the North Island a$ tho beginning of February, was met by the vessel during fine weather early last week.

The Empire Star is commanded by Captain S. Capon.