FAST MOTOR SHIP

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 11

FAST MOTOR SHIP

Imperial Star’s Trials at Belfast z MAIDEN VOYAGE TO NEW ZEALAND On her trials, which were run at Belfast on December 28, and which were completely satisfactory, the Blue Star Line’s new motor-ship Imperial Star attained a speed of 18.6 knots in both directions over the measured mile. The Imperial Star was to have departed yesterday from Belfast on hetmaiden voyage to New Zealand. The ship,' which is. coming out in ballast, is due at Auckland on February 4 and at Wellington about live days later. The Imperial Star is the first of three sister-ships built at Belfast by Harland and Wolff, Ltd., for the Blue Star Line, the others being the New Zealand Star, which was launched by Lord Bledisloe from Government House, Wellington, on November 22, and the Australia Star.

The Imperial Star, which has been specially designed for the l-arriage of the Dominion’s primary produce to Great Britain, is a. vessel of very distinctive appearance with a raking stem, cruiser stern, and a low motor-ship fpnnel, and she La only one mast. The cargo derricks, for working the hatches at the after end of the ship are all rigged from Samson-posts.. The ships’ hull is divided by eight watertight bulkheads, and has six holds, all insulated for the carriage of refrigerated cargoes. The vessel has special gas-tight compartments with a capacity of 1000 tons of chilled beef.

Accommodation for 12 passengers is arranged above the bridge deck, comprising four single and four doubleberth rooms. e-i"i> room having a privpte bathroom. Quarters for the master on the navigating bridge and officers’ and engineers’ accommodation in the midship deckhouse on the bridge deck are provided.

Propelling Machinery. The propelling machinery consists of two 10-cylinder, 4-eycle single acting, crosshead type, airless injection Diesel engines, driving twin screws. The pistons are cooled with oil, while the cylinder covers and jackets are fresh-' water cooled. Air for pressure induction is supplied by turbo-blowers driven by the main engine exhaust, and the discharge is direct to the inlet manifold. The electrical power is ‘ supplied by three main Diesel-driven generators, each having an output of 330 k.w. at a speed of 300 r.p.m. In addition to the lighting, the whole of the deck and machinery auxiliaries will be elecetrically driven. The ship is equipped with an unusually large number of derricks and winches,, designed and arranged to ensure the efficient and rapid handling of cargo in New Zealand.

The living accommodation is electrically heated, and the galley is provided with an electric range and other electrical cooking apparatus. Cabin and ceiling fans are installed throughout the accommodation, as also a very complete system of bells and telephones. The latest type of wireless telegraphy is fitted, both in long and short-wave, and an improved form of direction finder to assist navigation; an “echo” sounding apparatus is also provided.