Big Liners.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19373, 2 April 1935, Page 3

Big Liners.

UNLIKELY TO “PAY.” FKOBLEM ,OF EXPENSES. £50,000 A VOYAGE. It is disclosed that neither the giant French liner Normandie (now nearing completion) nor the British challenger, Queen Mary, is ever likely to “pay.” M. Caugardel, chief of the French line which will operate the Normandie, admitted that State aid would be indispensable if the vessel were to be kept permanently on the Atlantic route. Doubts were simultaneously expressed in London whether the Queen Mary would be able to cover the annual expense of running her. These predictions have come as a severe blow to the big ship advocates, though they accord with the frequently expressed opinions of many experts, who declare that no vessel above 40,000 tons can be regarded as “economic,” even v>;hen passenger traffic is normal. Whatever the financial outcome of the Cunard-White Star enterprise may be, however, the Queen Mary will be maintained in service, and there is every probability that orders for a sister ship will soon be placed. Both the company and the Government feel that the prestige of the British mercantile marine is at stake and that there would be a better prospect of making profits by two mammoth liners instead of one. But, to be a paying proposition, each of these vessels would have to earn not less than £1,000,000 a year, at the rate of £50,000 per voyage, which is a figure just above the estimated operating costs. Ten thousand men were directly and indirectly employed on the construction of the Queen Mary, and more than 3000 are now working on her internal fittings, which will bo completed in time for her to make her maiden voyage next year. The crew will number between 1200 and 1400, according to the season and the state of trade. The wages bill for a round trip will be at least £II,OOO, which, of course, will be but a small proportion of the total running expenses, totalling about £2500 a day, or nearly £l7 a minute. The cost of fuel alone for a double crossing will exceed £9OOO, and each time the liner “turns round” in port £3OO will have to be paid in dues. The Cunard-White Star Company iis far from being appalled by these estimates. Its confidence in the ship is indicated by its determination to build a second. liner directly : satisfactory financial arrangements can be made.