THE SUFFOLK LAUNCHED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 19

THE SUFFOLK LAUNCHED

SISTER TO ESSEX AND SUSSEX FOR THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, May 8. The 11,000-ton Suffolk, sister ship to the Essex and the Sussex, built for the New Zealand Shipping Company, was launched last week at Glasgow from the yards of John Brown and Co. She is now lying in the fitting-out basin beside the Queen Elizabeth The floating of. the Suffolk demonstrated launching technique in its highest and most ingenious form. The berth from which the new vessel was launched runs at an angle to the fit-ting-out basin, from which the stern of the Queen Elizabeth orotrudes into the river channel.

Accordingly, in launching the Suffolk, care had to be taken to ensure that the Cunard White Star liner would not suffer any damage by the wash. Eight bundles of drag chains were fastened on the port side to slew the Suffolk round, so that when she came to a halt she would occupy a Eosition parallel to the Queen Ehzaeth. When the last drag took effect the stem of the Suffolk was actually nosing into the fitting-out basin. The Suffolk will maintain the refrigerated and general cargo trade between Britain and Australia and New Zealand.

For the first time in this type of vessel, the bulkheads are carried through the tonnage 'tween decks and are of water-tight scantlings, thus affording the maximum standard of safety and protection against all risks of peace and war. Insulated space for the carriage of refrigerated or chilled cargo will be 520,000 cubic feet, and the general cargo space about 220,000 cubic feet. The Suffolk will be propelled by two sets of Brown-Doxford Diesel engines. It is expected that she will leave Liverpool about the end ot October on her maiden voyage. This will be to Australia. It is unlikely that the Suffolk will visit New Zealand on her first voyage.