GEARED TURBINES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8680, 13 March 1914, Page 6

GEARED TURBINES

AN INTERESTING VESSEL. The cargo steamer Oairnross, which will berth at Wellington this morping from Montreal, via St. Vincent, Durban, and Australian ports, under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Company, is the first vessel to visit the southern hemisphere under’geared turbine propulsion. In view of the fact that the Union Company’s well-known intercolonial liner Maheno will shortly have geared turbines installed, the visit of the Cairnross to New Zealand has aroused a great deal of interest among marine engineers. The, Oairnross is the only cargo steamer at the present time which is propelled with this type of engine. The Cairnross is practically a new steamer, of 4016 gross and 2513 net tons. She was built in 1912, at Sunderland, by Messrs W. Doxford and Sons, and was launched in January, 1913. The vessel is owned by the Cairn line of steamships, and is in every respect a modern cargo-carrier. She is fitted with all the latest appliances for the rapid handling of cargo, and is. also fitted with submarine signalling apparatus, in company with a sister steamer, the Cairn go wan, the Cairnross ran her trials in the Bristol and English ■ Channels, the result being a saving of 16 per cent, in coal by the Cairnross when compared with the other vessel, which is fitted with reciprocating engines. When the figures were worked out for long ocean tramp voyages, extending over 140 to 170 days, on a basis of twenty-seven tons per day for the Cairnross, her .rival required thirty-two tons per day, the net saving in the case of the Cairnross being about £I2OO to £1460 per annum for coal alone. Mr R. Royes (chief engineer of the vessel) speaks in glowing terms of the geared turbine as a means of propulsion in steamships. Mr Royes has had five years’ experience of these marine engines, and states that the results are most satisfactory. Some of the great advantages of the geared turbine are the saving of time when the ship has to pass her. periodical surveys, the small number of working surfaces in the engine department, and the great saving in tho consumption of oil and coal. The turbines -weigh forty tons less than a similar reciprocating engine, which means that the vessel can carry forty tons more dead weight. The absence of racing of the propellers when in light trim, or oven in heavy weather, is another advantage. Throughout the voyage from Montreal the Cairnross averaged 10 i knots in fine and rough weather, and during the fine days she was battling in the teeth of a hurricane. After leaving Montreal she behaved splendidly.