TWO GREAT SHIPS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19693, 27 July 1938, Page 3

TWO GREAT SHIPS

LAUNGHINGS THIS WEEK TIIK DOMINION MONARCH THE NEW MAUKETANTA Two of the year's most important British shipping events will take place this week, when two splendid liners, each designed for a different trade, will be launched. The first, that o! the Shaw. Savill and Albion Company s 27.000-ton quadruple-screw motor-ship Dominion Monarch, is of outstanding interest to New Zealand, as the vessel is destined for the trade from the Dominion to England. The second, that of the Cunard-White Star 33,000ton liner Mauretania, perpetuates the memorv of a famous predecessor.

The Dominion Monarch, designed specially Tor the England-South Africa-Australia-New Zealand route, will be launched at Wallsend-on-Tyne to-day bv Ladv Essendon, wife of the chairman of the Shaw. Savill and Albion Company, in the presence of Uie High Commissioners of the three Dominions. The Mauretania, which will ply in the trans-Atlantic trade, will be launched at Birkenhead on Thursday, the ceremony being performed by" Lady Bates, wife of the chairman oi' Cunard-White Star, Limited. Maiden Voyage in February The iargest ship built on the Tyne since the earlier Mauretania, the Dominion Monarch will be the largest vessel trading from England to South M'rica, Australia and New Zealand. Her gross tonnage of 27,000 makes her one of the largest motor ships in the world, giving pride of place only to the Italian liner Augustus and the British motor ships Georgic and Britannic The ship is designed to mainlain a schedule speed of 19J knots, with a maximum of 21 knots. Accommodation is given for 525 first-class passengers. The Dominion Monarch will leave London on her maiden voyage on February Hi, her ports of call being TenerilYe, Capetown, Durban, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. The Mow Zealand terminal port has not vet been announced. If will be reached on March 2-1. She will leave New Zealand for London, taking the same route, on April 24. Indicating the keen interest shown in the liner, one Auckland shipping agency alone has received more than 70 bookings for the return voyage. Atlantic Service Claimed to be the largest ship ever built in England, as distinct from Scotland and Ireland, the Mauretania will be more than 100(1 tons larger than the earlier Mauretania. holder of the Atlantic speed record for many years. She will be a twin-screw vessel driven by single reduction geared turbines. The propelling machinery has been designed to maintain an average speed of 22 knots. She will be ready fo r service in the trans-Atlan-tic trade at the end of this year, when the San Francisco and New York exhibitions will be opened. The Mauretania's launching will be the most spectacular of its kind ever seen. As the River Mersey is about a mil: 1 wide opposite the berth on which the liner has been constructed, no drag chains, customarily used to .■heel; the progress of a launched ship. will be employed.