THE PACIFIC SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 4

THE PACIFIC SERVICE

NEW PASSENGER- STEAMER. (Fbom Cub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 3. ilte head office of the Union Steam Ship Company has received fuller particulars of the new steamer which is to he built for 1110 Vancouver-New Zealand-Sydney service. The vessel, which, in an engineering' sense, will be an innovation, is now in Jiamfi no time being lost by the Fairfield Company (Glasgow), her builders. Iho new ship, it is expected, will bo a further proof of fhe great capacity and resource of the Clyde yards to turn out the best, and most modern of anything in the shape of hull, engines, or both that: present-day shipping services call for, either for passengers or cargo purposes. 'The trans-Pacific steamer will be what is known as a, Diesel ship, the engines of which are of the internal combustion type. This will allow of a construction, so far as passenger accommodation is concerned, giving much greater space, and far more comfort than is possible with a steam-driven vessel, for no boiler is required, and no coaling will bo necessary. Those interested in engineering will appreciate the following technical particulars of the engines:—Diesel type, four twocyele Sulzer engines, with 16 cylinders; lour propelior shafts and screws; 16.000 indicated horse-power; and a. speed of 18 knots (the Niagara is 171 knots). The new ship will be of the highest speed of Diesel ship' yet built, and a notable advance in marine engineering. 'Die highest speed of Diesel ship to-day is 14 knots. The Union Company has already a cargo vessel—the Hnuraki—which is Dcisel engined, and she has a speed of 13 knots. The of the new ship are specified as follows: Length, 600 ft; beam, 72ft; depth, 46ft 6in. Provision has been made for an equipment of 16 silent winches, an improvement that passengers who have to sloen on board-while cargo is being worked will very much appreciate. Cargo carrying will be an important, feature of the new ship, for (be company has a strong faith in (lie development 'of the trade across the Pacific, in the main exports of New Zealand, especially of refrigerated cargo. There will be eight hatches, and these will open up four insulated cargo bolds, .and four general cargo holds. Tito space for insulated cargo will b" equal to a capacity of 85.C00 cubic fool, and suitable for the' carriage _of meat or butter. The general cargo space will be equal to 250,0C0 cubic feet. • The luxurious character cf the passenger accommodation on crack steamers in ilte North Atlantic trade will be emulated to a large-cedent in (ho new Union Company’s shin now building for the Pacific. She will have accommodation for 920 passengers in all—4ll first.. 276 second, and 233 Third The first-class passenger accomntn. elation will have .53 ono-berth cabins, 322 two-berth cabins (including eight cabins de luxe), 16 bedroom suites, and 36 threcbcrtli cabins. There "’ill only be two and four-berth cabins in the second class. The scheme of decoration and furnishing is said to be particularly ornate, and no expense, it is understood, is to bo spatod iV, this respect, and in providing for the comfort, victualling, ami recreation of passengers In addition to (he usual dining saloons' smoking moms, lounges, and music and social for ’ll- various ebsses of pascongers, there will be a verandah cafe and evnniasiiim. Everything p-.-.-Mble will be done, it is understood, to make the tune on hoard pass quickly and Measa-My. and in comfort, not to say luxury, Iho nmv ship will take no the rtitimy' that the •\vender was to have done. Slip, it 'umbo roc a Hod was just out of the builders’ hands when she was tak-n for war service, and was torpedoed by the enemy.