THAMES ROBOT TUG

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18254, 24 November 1933, Page 4

THAMES ROBOT TUG

AN EXPERIENCE IN CHARGE AUTOMATIC CONTROL 1 made a thrilling and spectacular dehut as a lug-master on the Thames yesterday, when 1 took charge—temporarily—of the first robot tug, the Electro, writes a correspondent'ot the Daily Telegraph. The unique feature of the Electro, which is the first Diesel-electric tug to appear on the Thames, is the automatic control, which lias'abolished the tinkling bells of the engine-room and which enables tlie captain to control the engines direct from the bridge. It was simple enough even for a layman. I was told. Personally, I found il really too simple for a layman. THE IRRELEVANT LINER. When I took charge we were travelling at full speed ahead. Just to test the claims made for the mechanism I pushed to full speed astern. Nothing seemed to happen until I suddenly found from a glance at the river bank that we were travelling rapidly backwards. I am never quite clear about port and starboard at the best of times, and naturally going in reverse caused me a little confusion. But of course there was actually no need for tlie men on tlie sailing barge to get so excited, for my presence of mind never deserted me. and when 1 puslul tlie lever to tlie ahead position the Electro moved frontwards again without so much aw a tremor. They shouted something to me, but I thought it best to pretend 1 did not hear. The next manoeuvre was a turn at full speed, with a sudden reverse thrown in as an additional test, and I was just beginning to feel master of this remarkable craft when an agitated hooting brought to our notice a great Union Oastle liner which liad stupidly got in our path. At this point I was relieved from duty. As tlie liner slid past white-capped figures on tlie bridge were seen to lie glaring at us through binoculars. A TUG DE LUXE. To tho crew the Electro is a tug de luxe. The engine-room is so cool that radiators have been installed for the winter, and, of course, stoking is nonexistent. There is only one other Dieselelectric tug, in Europe, and the Electro, which is owned by the Union Lighterage Company, is attracting tremendous interest, not only among shipping authorities, but among naval experts. Representatives of the Admiralty are to inspect it. Running costs are said to be onefifth of steam power, and the boat lias been designed so that it exercises the full 580 h.p. when hauling a load of 1750 tons. The automatic control is unique, and inis enormous advantages In a crowded river shell as'the Thames, where ease of manoeuvring is essential. Within one second of moving the lever on the bridge the propeller is reversed, and it can be stopped equally quickly. And this can be done without the slightest damage to the mechanism.