A LEVIATHAN SHIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16738, 20 May 1922, Page 17

A LEVIATHAN SHIP.

TONNAGE EQUAL TO SPANISH ARMADA’S. LONDON, May 8. The Great Eastern, the combined sciew and paddle steamer which was built, in 1858 and then bailed throughout the world as “ the ocean leviathan,” pales into the insignificance of a tug-boat compared with the magnificent White Star liner Majestic, which will set out on her maiden voyage to New York on Wednesday. The Majestic represents the last word in floating palaces. Originally named the Bismarck, she was delivered up by Germany under the peace treaty. She was built on the Elbe by Blohm and Voss, and launched a few weeks before the outbreak of wax. The Majestic is of the most imposing dimensions, her length overall being 959 feet and her beam 100 feet. Her gross tonnage exceeds 56,500, and her displacement when loaded to Plimsoll marks is 64,600. An idea of her huge bulk may be gained when it is realised that she is longer than the river front of the House of Commons, and that if placed on end she would tower to more than twice the height of St Paul’s Cathedral ; while her tonnage represents the aggregate tonnage of the 135 ships of the -Spanish Armada. The Majestic’s internal space is equivalent to 400 detached suburban residences of eight rooms each. There is no dry dock in the country capable of holding her. A unique feature of the deck architecture is that on Deck B, containing" the majority of the public rooms, an uninterrupted vista of 250 feet is provided from the forward lounge through a palm court to a raised- restaurant aft. The loungs has a parqueted dancing floor of 4000 square feet clear, as there are no pillars supporting the glassdomed roof. The dining saloon has an area of 11,350 square feet. Opposite the saloon there is a -swimming-bath, a lady instructor being in attendance. A gymnasium is also provided. The full complement of the ship is more than 5000 persons—7so first-class passengers, 546 second-class, and 239,3 third class. On the run from Ouxhaven to Southampton a speed of 25 knots was registered. Steam is supplied from 48 water-tube boilers fired with oil fuel The tank’s capacity is sufficient for the round voyage to New York and back. There are four screws* The turibnes machinery is capable of developing 100,000 horse-power. The launch of the Great Eastern (first called Leviathan) was regarded at the time as an event of national importance, the vessel’s capacity as a troopship being considered to give England a tactical advantage over other nations. She used screws, paddles and sails. Her dimensions were:—Length. 692 feet; beam, S 3 feet; draught. 25’feet Her gross tonnage was 18,915, and she cost £750.000. Scott, Russell and ( 0., the builders had many difficulties to overcome in the launching and commissioning of the ship, and several fatal accidents occurred. The Great Eastern wag used for laving the Atlantic cable, and later for the French Atlantic, Bombay-Suez, and fourth and fifth Atlantic cables. She was sold by auction for £16,000, and broken up on the Mersey, the materials bringing about £6OOOO.