RUSSIAN SHIPBUILDING

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 22

RUSSIAN SHIPBUILDING

It is. unfortunate, that more determined attempts aro not made to ascertain the position of Russian shipbuilding and shipping, particularly in. Tegard to the construction and completion of new tonnage, states "The Motor Ship." The figures which are published by Lloyd's Register of Shipbuilding every quarter are now vitiated because no details are given of ships under construction in Bussia, and,' according to our' information, the tonnage building there is probably equal to that in 'any other country, 80 per cent, of it being represented by oil-engined vessels. In making any comparisons, it is clearly equally illogical to omit reference to Russia as to ignore any other country. From the technical standpoint the position of Eussian shipbuilding and marine engineering is exceptionally interesting. In four standard • cargo ships which have been designed specially for the Odessa-Marseilles service, German-built propelling and auxiliary machinery has been utilised, presumably in order to expedite delivery. We have no doubt that the attempt a few years ago to' develop a Eussian-designed Diesel engine under the aegis of . the Soviet has been abandoned,. Indeed, the first ship we examined with such machinery seemed to us to be completely out. of date. So much cannot be said of the new.vessels. Every hold is insulated and, for their size, they. have probably a larger insulated capacity than any other ships afloat. There is no steam aboard, electricity being used for every purpose, including heating.