LINERS IN A HURRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15894, 19 January 1924, Page 6

LINERS IN A HURRY.

GIANT ATLANTIC STEAMERS. "Turning a ship round," as the phase is understood on the quayside, is an event of importance, says "M.J." in the Daily Mail, because it is used only when it is intended to increase the normal speed for the operation of getting a liner ready for sea. A "quick turn round" such as the Leviathan experienced at Southampton last week-end is epochal. When competition on the Atlantic "ferry" was not at its present pitch it was usual for a liner to spend two weeks at sea, a week each way, and a week in port ot either end of the journey—aL New York or Southampton or Liverpool, as the case might bo. During the intermediate weeks in port the crow and the shore staff were occupied with preparations for the return journey. Thcr. tll3 liners were 10,000 tonnea's as a rule, though there were occasional giants of about twice the size, which were rarely turned round in a hurry. are, some of them, 50,000 tonners, and it is quite the regular tiling for them to come in at the w r cek-end and turn round in readiness for sea by the middle of the following week. Of course, they do not "turn round" in the physical sense at all, but they swarm with men before the incoming passengers have come ashore. Scores of these men clear the ship of baggage "not wanted on the voyage" which came over in the holds; dozens more gather up the thousands of pieces of linen which have to be laundered and stored again by the day before sailing' day; more men still, in the providorc department, concern themselves with the stores—eggs by the thousand, food by the ton, knives and forks and spoons in uncountable numbers. The mere physical business of putting it all aboard means day and i ight work for stevedores by the dozen. Then there is the cleaning up of the great public rooms; the preparation of the suites for the next occupants; the renewal of breakages; repairs in half a hundred forms; engine overhaul; perhaps a bit of painting; and, more troublesome than anything else, the business of refueling. In an oil-burning ship this is a simple matter. Big pipe linos, a registering machins, and a handful of men and—the thing is done cleanly and rapidly. But if the boat be a big one and a coal burner, it means that 3000 or 4000 tons (the winter's, supply of a fairsized town) have to be shot into her bunkers ond Irimmed in three breathloss days and nights. The business goes on without ceaFing, hiding the ship in a black fog and choking everybody within 100 yards. That means a last-minute clean-up—a stale of feverish labour which is almost indescribable.