WHALE FACTORY SHIP

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1929, Page 15

WHALE FACTORY SHIP

VESSEL OF 32,000 TONS. USE IN ANTARCTIC SEAS. One of the most novel ships ever built was launched at Belfast on May 30, .when Messrs. Workman, Clark sent afloat the steamer Kosmos, which will be used as a whale oil factory ship and oil tanker. She has been built for Norwegian owners to the order of Mr. Anders Jahre, the pioneer of the pelagic whaling industry. The Kosmos is a vessel of about 32,000 tons displacement, is 550 ft. in length, and is constructed on the longitudinal system to the highest requirements of Lloyd’s Register and the Norwegian Sea Control Regulations. The whaling factory Itself is situated in the upper 'tween decks, which are over 15ft. deep, and Is equipped with the latest plant for dealing economically with the maximum catch of whales. The weather deck above the factory has been arranged clear of obstructions to facilitate the handling of the whales and the cutting up. The vessel is fitted with numerous powerful winches capable of handling loads up to 40 tons and in conjunction with special derricks. The propelling machinery has been built by Workman, Clark (1028), Ltd., and consists of quadruple expansion engines taking steam from five cylindrical oil-fired multitubular boilers working at 2501 b, . pressure under forced draught and with superheated steam. Tn the engineroom there are a? number of new features designed to cope with the special trade on which the vessel will be employed in the Antarctic seas. Accommodation is provided for over 300, with special facilities for storage and cooking provisions necessary for the long voyage and service, and in this connection reference might bo made to the enormous fresh water distilling plant. This vessel is the first of the kind specially built as a whaling factory, the existing vessels to date having been conveitod oil tankers, and the new firm of Messrs. Workman, Clark (1928), Ltd., are maintaining the traditions of the old firm in pioneer shipbuilding. It‘is expected that the Kosmos will be readv for service in two months.