MANY TANKERS SAVED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25386, 18 November 1943, Page 5

MANY TANKERS SAVED

IMPORTANT NEW DEVICE USE OF COMPRESSED AIR RUGBY, Nov. 16. Hundreds of British tankers are being fitted with a device for ship saving, which has already proved to be one of the most important and successful of the war since it was first used in June, 1942. Many tankers have been brought into port after receiving torpedo damage which at one time would have caused complete loss. I The device, which was evolved by Mr W. J. Nelson, a sea-going engineer, makes use of compressed air to keep water out of fractured tanks. An air line is run the full length of the ship, with a compressor at either end, and if the ship is torpedoed the compressors are brought into operation to force air into the damaged compartments. The inrush of water is checked, then forced out, and the pressure maintained until the ship is docked for repairs. The device can also be used for firefighting when the engine room has been put out of action, a hose pipe being hung over the side and linked with the system to produce a 60ft jet of water. The system can also be put into use as a, pump fuel from the tanks if the normal pumping system is put out of action. Another use, which was not thought of by Mr Nelson, saved a tanker torpedoed in mid-Atlantic. The steering gear was put out of action, and the ship’s engineer used the compressor to operate the steering machinery. The compressor was also used to pump oil fuel to the galley, so that the crew could have hot meals.