LARGER LINERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 6

LARGER LINERS

LORD PIRRIE AND HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION.' .

In answer to arequest by the Dominions. Boyal Commission, Lord Pirrio has submitted an interesting /memorandum on the development of harbours from the point of view of shipowners and shipbuilders. One of the questions was to the effect which the present deeping of the Suez Canal and the. capacity of the Panama Canal are likely to have on the world's harbours. ■ - , Lord Pirrie replied that, by providing for tho passage of. larger vessels through these two wate'r-waysHhan are at present engaged on the routes involved, • shipowners will be encouraged to build vessels up to the maximum dimensions, and thus the demand on the part of shipping for an increased available depth in the principal harbours of the world will be increased. He has no doubt the minimum working depth now desirable for a first-class harbour is at least forty feet, and, in view of the time which it takes to get harbour authorities in motion and to obtain results,, his -lordship thinks the minimum depth which harbour engineers, or any report on harbour,facilities, should now recommend is at least fortyfive feet, as by the time anything like that depth obtains in many harbours there will bo a demand for it.

Building In Anticipation. In. answer to another, inquiry/ Lord Pirrie. Bays developments in the size- and draught of ocean-gojng vessels aro limited ontirely by the facilities and ,the draught of water in harbours. .This applys to all ocban-goirig vessels. His lordship pointed out that, with tho increased draught now becoming available at Melbourne, liis firm has recently built by far the largest vessel, yet put into the Australian trade, her load draught being greater than, can be satisfactorily utilised at Melbourne, the port which governs the departure draught, in anticipation of harbour development there, being continued. Provided the draughts of. water and harbour facilities at the different Australian ports' will permit of a steady increase in ih'o size of vossels, lie does not think there is justification for seting any limit which could be put forward for vessels in eucb. a trade. The developments, he.adds, will be entirely governed by -the harbour _f cilities provided,' and the Commission may feel assured that shipownera, in order to take the maximum advantage of the port facilities provided, will do their, best to ensure that the size of the largest and newest vessels is always such as will take advantaged any developments of which there .was a' reasonable prospect. ■ , ■ ■