LINER LAUNCHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 6

LINER LAUNCHED

OIiIENT SHIP ORCADES | NUMEROUS IMPROVEMENTS HIGH SUEZ CANAL DUES [from OUR OWN CORP.KSI'ONDKNT] LONDON, Dec. 12 The new Orient liner Orcades was launched at the Naval Construction Works of Yickers-Annstrong. Barrow-in-Furness, by Mrs. I. C. Geddes, wife of the chairman of Anderson, Green and Company, the managers of the Orient Line The ship glided smoothly ami rapidly clown the ways just before noon, though a stiff cross-breeze added to the difficulties of the tugs in safely berthing her after she had been put into the water. With a gross tonnage of about 23.-100, the Orcades is a sister ship of the Orion, which was launched by • the same builders barely two years ago. Some modifications, however, have been introduced in her design. Externally, the single funnel is to be heightened by Oft. in order to secure better dis]>ersion of the products of combustion from the boiler furnaces, and the appearance is improved by reducing tlie number of uprights supporting the promenade decks; while internally the first-class public rooms are to be somewhat rearranged and those of the tourist class enlarged. Speed of 21 Knots The number of first-class cabins in which sliding windows replace portholes is to be increased, and for those on E deck u new type has been evolved about three times the size of a porthole. There will be accommodation for 463 first-class passengers in 303 single ind two-berth rooms and in the tourist class for 605 in' 270 cabins, the total of 1068 being rather smaller than in the Orion. It is calculated that on the construction of the Orcades, which will be driven by two sets of geared turbines with an aggregate power of 24,000 horse-power, and have a speed of 21 knots, the equivalent of at least 5000 men and women have been directly employed for a year, apart from the indirect employment that has been spread all over the country through the subcontractors, over 100 in number. Defence Programme Speaking at luncheon after the launching, Sir Charles Craven, the managing-director of Vickers-Arm-strong, mentioned that the Orcades was the sixth ship built at Barrow for the Orient Line, and that while when the first of the series, the Orama, was laid down the number of employees was 3270, now it exceeded 14,300. It was thought after the defence programme was placed that the works would be able to deal with all the requirements that might be made upon them, but it goon became clear that it would be impossible to satisfy the Government and at the same time hold the merchant shipbuilding connection that had been built up during the time when orders for warships were practically nonexistent. The manufacturing capacity was, however, again being increased, and he hoped, if sufficient skilled men could be obtained, that the works would soon be in a position again to undertake the building of passenger ships while giving satisfaction to the defence services. During the slack period the company bad never hesitated to keep the flow of apprentices under training for the skilled trades. Their number was being increased, and be believed that they started on their career with a better chance of steady employment than many of their fathers. A Heavy Burden Mr. Geddes pointed out that the Orcades in dimensions was not very different from the Great Eastern, which 80 jears ago was the wonder of the seas', yet each passenger in her would have about four times as much space as a passenger in the older ship. The problem of the shipowner, however, was not only to build good ships but also to make them pay. One of the largest single items in the running costs of the Orcades would be the Suez Canal dues, amounting to about £I4,(XX) for each round voyage, and, assuming that she spent her life in the Australian trade and the dues remained at their present level, the amount paid to the Suez Canal Company would be greater than that paid to Vickers-Armstrong for her construction. All expenses had risen, hut the Suez Canal dues, being based on gold, had risen out of all proportion to other items, and in spite of repeated reductions in the nominal rates the burden of transit through the Canal was ,now 50 per cent greater than before the war in relation to other charges paid or received by the owners. The Orcades is to start on her maiden voyage, a cruise to the Western Mediterranean, on August 21, and will take her place in the Australian service on October 9.