BRITANNIC LAUNCHED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1995, 28 February 1914, Page 5

BRITANNIC LAUNCHED.

GIGANTIC LINER. • DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL. Sy Telegraph—Press Association—Ooi>yrii?M London, February 26. Tho Whito Star Company's new stoamor, liritannic, lias been launched at Harlanu ami Wolff's yards, Belfast.

_ Tlia construction of tho new White Star steamer Britannic is a very notablo evont in tho history of shipping.. The new vossel ig about 900 feet long and 30,000 tons grosa register; and in general features will bo similar to tho Olympic, with various improvement. l ! introduced as the result of tho experience gained in that, vessel, which has proved so popular in tho servico: The Britannic will represent the highest skill and perfection yot attained in naval architecture aud marine engineering. Both in design and workmanship the element of strength has been kept steadily in viow, and the most approved structural arrangements suggested by the latest experience have been adopted. From keel to truck tho Britannic will bo as .perfect as human ingenuity and skill, aud tho most powerful appliances c«n make a vessel. The double bottom, extending tho whole length of the vessel, oft. 3i|i. 'deep " (increased under the reciprocating engineroom to lift, 3in,), tho massiva beams and close framing, the large shell plates, .tho steel deoks, the double skin anu watertight bulkheads, combine to make a structure of exceptional strength and rigidity, Tho hydraulio riveting in the vessel is also an important factor, tho \vholo of tha shell plating up to the turn ot' tho bilge being riveted by hydraulic power, Tho rivets were closed by means of tho powerful seven-ton riveting machines suspended from tho travelling frames on tho gantry. As illustrating tho importance of the riveting in this vessel, it may bo mentioned there are half a million rivets in the double bottom alone, weighing about 270 tons, tho largest rivets being li inches in diameter, and in tho complete ship there will bo fcomcthing like, three millions, weighing about 1200 tons.

Tho following particulars will also be found interesting;—'Tho largest shell plates are 36ft. long, weighing 41 tons each; the largest beam 92ft, long, the weight of the 'double beam being 4 tonsj the stern frame weighs 70 tons; the after boss arms. 73i tonsi tho forward, '15 tons; the rudder, 100 tons; the engine crank shafts, 118 tons eaoh; bedplate, J!)5 tons; columns, 31 tons each; the heaviest cylinder, with liner, 50 toiis; wing pro. -pallors, each 38 tons, finished weights, 'l'he castings for the turbine . cubing weighed 163 tons, and for tho centre •(turbine) propeller, which is of solid bronze, 22 tons., • •, Exceptional interest having beon taken in tho inner skin of this vessel, and that of the Olympic, it may bo well to state that tho inner skin consists of l\eavy plating well stiffened, extending for nioro than half the length of the' vessel, from the watertight bulkhead in front of the forward boiler room to tho after end of the turbine cu»ine-rooin, anil boing strongly connected by longitudinal plates and angles, and specially strong connections at bulkheads and- watertight divisions. This reinforced structure also extends from tho tank top, i.e., from tho top of tho doublo bottom to above tlio 'middle or "J?" deck, and the watertight bulkheads aro carried right up to the bridge deck. I'lie strength and safety afforded by this method of construction will bo easily appreciated wlieii; it is mentioned that the Britannic, like the Olympic, in whichi'the inner stun' and similar watertight' divisions wero introduced, besides having this extra protection against serious damage, will bs ablo to tloat with any six compartments ■flooded. The White Star Line and the builders believo that by this means they have solved tho problem of carrying tho piissengors in these large and Tovialhans' in 'dbsolntb safety: '" " ■

Tho ves=el i? fitted witu tho latest and most approved type of oleotrical(y. driven bunt-lowering gear, by means .'.ot which a 1 very largo number of boats can, ono after tho other, bo put over tho 6ido of tho vessel and. lowered to tho water line in much less time tlwn was possible under the qld system' uf davits, One of tho advantages of the new system is that tho passengers tako their places in tho boats expeditiously, and with'perfect safety, before the boats are lifted' from tho deck of tho vessel, and the pcai' is so constructed that tho fully-laden boats are lowered at a very considerable distance from tho side of the ship, thus minimising risk in bad weather. Moreover, the whole of the boats on board can be lowered on cither side of tho vessel, whichever happens to be clear, and tho gear has been kept so far inboard as to give a wide passage at eithc-r eide of the ship for promenading, and for marshalling tha passengers in case of emergency. • ... As already indicated, the Britannio 15 a triple-screw steamer, having' a combination of reciprocating engines, with a low-pressure turbine, by which two main objects aro attained—the utmost comfort ensurod to passengers by the smooth working of tho ship, and, from an engineering standpoint, tlio utmost economy in the utilisation of steam. In addition to tho Marconi system of wireless telegraphy, the Britannio will 'have submarine signalling apparatus, and electrically-driven sounding machines.