THE DOMINION MONARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 13

THE DOMINION MONARCH

A LINER IN THE MAKING The Dominion Monarch, of 27,000 tons gross, officially described as the world’s most powerful motor vessel, which was launched from the yard of. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson, Ltd., on July 27, will sail on her maiden voyage in a pioneer service of the Shaw Savill and Albion Lines from Southampton to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand on February 17. Meanwhile, joiners, fitters, and other tradesmen, to the number of about 2000, have (The Times says) taken possession of her, under the direction of Mr Norman Hunter, the genera] manager of the shipyard. Mostly they wear overalls, which are suitable attire in a new ship where paint and. varnish are constantly being applied. In company with one of the managers of the shipping company, who went to observe progress, I boarded the vessel by a temporary gangway, and also passed from one deck to another by climbing temporary ladders. Only one permanent ladder was in position, but the absence of the usual means of transit does not mean that the ship as a whole is merely the skeleton she was at the time of launching.. Some parts of the ship appeared to be in an embryonic state, while others need, apparently, only finishing touches. Most of the decks in the public rooms were still of bare steel. This simple state did not detract at all from the interest of the inspection, since it enabled the full extent to be realised of the use made of electric welding, a system which results in perfectly flat floors, free from overlapping seams. I was told that more use has been made of electric welding than in any merchant vessel of similar size. The great games deck is sheathed with Burma teak. Fine though the games decks are of some of the liners built in recent years for services with the 'British countries overseas, the upper deck of the Dominion Monarch is said to be considerably larger than the corresponding feature of any other vessel sailing between Great Britain and Australia and New Zealand. The craftsmen engaged in all parts of the ship belong to many trades. There were woodworkers who were placing in position panels of beautiful Australian woods. One of the exceptions is the panelling of the large lounge, since the wood consists of well-seasoned elm that long formed the piles of Waterloo bridge across the Thames. Plasterers were decorating the ceilings. Temporary electric cables were everywhere. Concealed lighting is to be employed, and when in the evening lights between double windows are in use the restaurant will appear to be flooded with sunlight. A sprinkler system was installed even before the vessel was launched, and this equipment has simplified the carrying out of decorative work. The engines, consisting of four Diesel motors, partly hidden by sacking. were already in position. The walls of the engine room have been i specially treated to restrict the passage of sound. The activity in the ship is to proceed at its present high level till the end of the year. By then all the constructive work should have been completed; all the machinery in the vessel will be run. and an army of painters and cleaners vgill prepare the ship for the reception of all carpets, rugs, furniture, and other fittings, linen and plate, and stores, which will be poured into her. Many of the navigational contrivances and fire-detection devices have already been erected, while others have not yet been removed from large packing cases lying on the decks. These instruments and much other equipment have come from all parts of the country, for trulv shipbuilding is the greatest assembling industry in the world.