THE BUDAPEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 5

THE BUDAPEST

HUNGARY'S FIRST SEA-GOING MOTORSHIP

A glance at the map will reveal that Hungary is situated in the very centre of Europe. Through its territory runs the Blue Danube on her way to the Black' Sea. but since Hungary has no sea coast —and hence no seaports—its merchant marine has, until recently, been limited to river craft. It is, therefore, of singular importance to this Central European republic that the Hungarian merchant flag to-day flies for the first time from the taffrail of an ocean-going vessel. This vessel ig the Budapest, a combination river and deep water motorship, which was launched recently in the city whose name. she bears and which is now engaged in service between Hungary ami Egypt. .'.'•'•■•. Before the building of the Budapest, the fleet of the Hungarian Fluvial and Maritime Navigation Company, Ltd. (M.F.T.R.), could handle only the Danubian portion of Hungary's traffic with overseas countries which necessitated complicated and. expensive transhipment of cargoes to vessels of other nations at ports on or near the Black Sea.. Efforts to gain the utmost from water transport led to the construction of the new motorship. By adapting her to the requirements of both river and sea duty direct handling of cargoes between Danube cities and foreign ports is now possible at substantial savings in time and expense, with added protection against damage en route. According to the Vacuum Oil Company, the new ship is 180 feet long, 28 feet wide, and has a cargo capacity of 300 tons on the Danube and 500 tons at sea. Her draft, with 300-ton load, is six feet. Since fuel consumption is a substantial item in the operation of vessels in her class of trade, the Budapest is equipped with two specially-built Diesel engines adapted and installed at the famous Hungarian Ganz factory, in Budapest, who also constructed the hull. These are Ganz-Jendrassik Diesels, which deliver high output with small space requirements, and are used extensively for rail coaches and motor trucks not only in Hungary, but in France. Holland, and other European countries. The Budapest's two engines, each developing 215 h.p. at 1150 r.p.m.. to provide a speed of eight knots, are lubricated with Gargoyle marine, oils. The vessel employs electric drive—a feature quite new on ships of her size. On her maiden voyage, the new motor ship carried a full cargo for Istanbul, Beyrouth, Haifa/Jaffa, and Alexandria'. Under Captain F. Kadar. with two officers and crew of 10, she left Budapest and proceeded down the Danube, via Sulina, to the Black Sea —and thence through the Dardanelles and the iEgean and Mediterranean Seas to Alexandria.