FEDERAL MERCHANT FLEET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 281, 23 August 1919, Page 8

FEDERAL MERCHANT FLEET

BIG ENLARGEMENT PROGRAMME

PLANS.OUTLINED

Altered plans by the Commonwealth Government regarding shipbuilding, and tlie acquisition of foreign ships, were recently announced in the Federal Parliament by the Acting-Minister of tho Navy, Mr. Poynton. Tho first programme, of ship construction in Australia consists of six vessels, of the Three Island or welldeck type. These' vessels, 331 ft by 48ft. by 2Gft. lin. depth, moulded to the upper deck, are the Droinana and Duinosa, building at the Commonwealth Dockyard, Willianistownj'tho Delungra, Dinoga, and Dilga, building at the Government Dockyard, Walsh Island; and the Dundula, building at Commonwealth Dockyard, Cockatoo Island. These vessels are about 5500 tons dead weight, on 21ft. SJin. draft, and are fitted with a single-screw engine, and Babcock and Wilcox boilers, with an i.h.p. of about 2200, capable of driving the vessel at a speed of 10}- knots at sea. Their cubic capacity is about 252,000 ft. The Delungra, Dundula, Dromana have been launched, and are fitting out. i'lie Dromana will probably proceed 011 a trial early next week. The Dinoga Is practically ready for launching at Walsh Island, and the Dumosa, at Williamstown. would have been launched at the end of this month had delay not occurred, owing to the seamen's strike and the coal and power restrictions. Thn Dilga at Walsh Island is completely framed out. The cost of tho vessels ovill average : about, .£155,000 each.

Fourteen Ships. A second programme, consisting of fourteen steel ships, has been commenced. They will bfe built, two at the Commonwealth Dockyard. Williamstnwn, three at tho Government Dockyard'. Walsh Island, one r.t the Commonwealth Dockyard, Cockatoo Island, four at Walkers. Ltd.. Maryborough, Queensland, and four at Messrs. Poole, and Steel's, Adelaide. These vessels, on three of which work has been commenced, will be of the she.l- - tvpei and will be 331 ft. in length, 48ft. in breadth, by 33ft. 7in. in dentil, moulded to sllelter-declc. They will carry about • 600 tons dead-weight on 23ft: fUin. draught. The, total capacity will be about 388,000 cubic feet. The machinery driving tho vessels will bo the same as for the vessels building under tho first nrogramme. Arrangements will be mud" for the carriage of oil fuel, and the boilers will be suitable for burning either oil or coal, as may bo considered desirable. The average cost will , bu .6155,000. Steel plate material for these latter vessels building at Walsh Island, Cockatoo Island, and- Williamstown has been ordered from Englnnd. and about 2500, to 30(10 tons have ali'oadv been delivered into the yards. A portion of steel sectional material has nlso been • delivered frum the Broken Hill Cp.

Six of the vessels will be completed in 18 months, another six in two years, and tl'» liulance in'two and a half years. Two wooden-. Jive-masted auxiliary schooners are under construction by Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh. The dimensions of the vessels are 250 ft. by 'loft, by 21ft. siu. The deadweight will be about 2lioo tons on a load draught of about 211 ft, lOiii. 0110 vessel is framed out and partly planked, and the second partly framed. The timber used 111 construction is Australian hardwood. The propelling machinery consists of two sets of semi-Deisel Bolinder engines, doveioping about 210 B.H.P. at about 2-JI) revolutions per minute, which it is estimated 'will drive the vessel at seven knots. The contract price for the vessels is J;2t! per deadweight ton. Proposed Now Contracts. Negotiations have been completed foi tho construction of four larger vessels, with tho option of two more, the dimensions being 520rt. over all, breadth fcilt. Sin., depth moulding 45ft. These vessels are of the shelter-deck type, with a long bridge and forecastlo aliuvo tho shelter deck, and three complete decks laid. It is estimated that they will carry about .12,800 tons deadweight-, and have a. speed, fully loaded, of 13 knots. About 2M),OfW mi bio leet uf insulated space for tho carriage of frozen meat'ol' chilled produce ■will bu provided. The total cubic capacity of the vessel, including insulated -.pace, will be about 700,000 cubic feet. Tho boilers will bo s.uitaljle for burning either oil or coal. Tiio cost of these larger vessels will be J-'f23,000 per vessel, or for tiio four, i'1,602,00(1.

It is anticipated that two of these vessels will be in commission in two years, to be followed by a further two at intervals of six months.

On all tlie vessels the requirements of thr, Navigation Act are being observed. The 'question of extending tho Williamsj(.V7n dock so that vessels of the larger size and type can be built there is bsing considered. Orders Placed in England. A. contract has aiso been signed with Vickers in Great Britain for the building ot : three vessels ol 12,UM) tons (leiulvcigiit, UVOjCOO cubic leet, of wiueu jiO.imO is to bo insulated, 'liiu lengui of llieso vessels will be 520tt, by (ifjit. They are to be built to burn oil fuel or aliernatiyoly coal. The speed is to be )5 knots. The vessels are uue for delivery in January, June, and October, 1!I2J, respectively.

A similar contract has 'been entered into with Beardmore's Ito build iwu steamers, similar 111 all respects lo tliosu lining bunt by Vickers.

Under ii contract, arranged villi tho I'nUeison, M'Monnhl Shipbuilding Cuml>any, lur the constliictiiiii of tun wooden steamers, the Uirriwn is expected at tho end of July, ami the .Bernnga nl this beginning of September.

.In tlio rumautitig bouts arrangements were .made tor the substitution of Diesel engines for steam engines. The Benowa wus/lelivereil oil .Inly 15, und tlio Labi mlii is expected about tho middle of August. Tho itivlcaUiv launching is expected lo take place al the beginning .of August, and s'no will be rcauy for delivery by tlio end of September. Tim delivery of the iiooblyalia and Bomka luia not yet been ilelimtely fixed.

"What story was told most, frequently," asks a correspondent of "The Brilisli Weekly," "at the recent May meetings?" lindoubtedly that of Mr. Spurgeon and the lion. Sir Donald .Maclean recalled it al: Sir Walter Runciman's dinner lo Mr. Asquilh. Sir Donald Miioalisior loltl the story at llie (Queen's Hall Presbyterian gathering. "Defend tho Biblo?" said .Mr. Spurgeon. "1 should as soon think of defending a lion. I should lot; the lion loosp,"