AN INTERESTING SHIP

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 113, 10 February 1928, Page 8

AN INTERESTING SHIP

CITY OF BATH ARRIVES AN UP-TO-DATE CARGOCARRIER Mort: than ordinary interest, especially to marine engineers and others in shipping circles, attaches to the cargo steamer City of Bath, which arrived at Wellington yesterday morning from New York, via Auckland, after a smart passage down the coast The City of Bath, which is one of the fleet of 208 steamers owned and controlled by the Ellerman Lines of Liverpool, is an exceptionally fine type of cargo ship. Built by Messrs. W. Gray and Co., Ltd., at West Hartlepool, she was launched in June, 1926, and has been in service a little over twelve months. The design of the ship embodies the most modern practice and high tensile steel was freely used in her construction. She is fitted with a cruiser stern, and special attention was given to the planning of her cargohandling gear, which is on the most up-to-date lines. There are sixteen winches, and the holder and ’tween decks are exceptionally clear for the carriage of the most bulky cargo, a special natch having a length of over 40 feet, allowing the ship to carry below deck the largest modern locomotives.

The principal dimensions of the City of Perth are: Length, 393.2 feet; breadth, 52.2 feet; depth of holds, 28.2 feet; moulded depth, 30 feet 8 inches; deadweight capacity, about 8500 tons on a draught of 26 feet 5 inches; gross tonnage, 5079 tons; net tonnage, 3151 tons. Economy in working was especially aimed at in the design of the ship’s propelling machinery, which is of considerable interest to marine engineers. The City of Bath has a quadruple expansion engine using superheated steam from coal-burning boilers at a pressure of 2651 b. per square inch. High boiler efficiency has been obtained by adopting extra long boilers, and high temperature combustion air with forced draught. The main and auxiliary machinery was supplied by the Central Marine Engine Works of the builders. The balanced quadruple expansion engine has cylinders of 21jin., 30|in., 45in;>, and 66in. respectively, with a piston stroke of 48 inches. Steam is supplied by four Scotch boilers working up to a pressure of 2651 b. to the square inch, and fitted with multitubular air heaters, and temperature of the air supplied to the furnaces being raised to about 300' degrees Fahr. The designed speed of the ship is 14 knots, and she has done exceptionally well in service.

Since the City ot Bath was put into service the Ellerman Lines have had the City of Canberra built by the same builders. The latter is a much larger ship, 453 feet in length, with a gross tonnage of 7130 tons, and a dead-weight capacity of 10,830 tons. In design both of hull and engines the ships closely resemble each other the City of Canberra having, of course, larger engines of higher power using superneated steam at 560 degrees Fahr., and 2651 b. pressure from four boilers burning oil fuel. The owners are building two other ships of similar dimensions, one to be propelled by single-reduction geared turbines and the other by Diesel oil engines. Very interesting comparative operating data will be available when the service performances of these ships can fairly be compared. The City of Bath has a large quantity of general cargo, including numerous motor-cars, to discharge at Wellington.