NEW MAURETANIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 82, 30 December 1937, Page 9

NEW MAURETANIA

Cunard Vessel To Be LauncheB Next Year FEATURES OF DESIGN A new Mauretania will he sailing the North Atlantic in 1939. She is at present No. 1029, and is heing coustrueted for the Cunard- White Star Co. by Cammell Laird and Co., at Birkenhead. When the old Mauretania sailed on her last voyage to the breaking-up yard at Rosyth in July, 1935, her name did not die. While a ship may he given any name her owners please, no two British vessels may bear the same name, so, in order to save this famous name for a new liner, it was transferred to a paddle steamer at Southampton. The new vessel will be launclied in the summer of 1938, and she is eipected to be in commission hy Septemher, 1939. Although it was originally announced that the ship would be nearly 750 feet long and he more than 30,000 tons gross, it is evident that she will be much larger and her gross tonnage is likely to be near 43,000 tons. She will have ten decks, including a sports deok having ample space for open-air activities for passengers. Features of the ship's design will he a terraced hridge superstructure, eruiser stern, two funnels and two masts. The outer shell has alreadyi risen to the sixth deck and more than 500,000 of the 2,500,000 rivets in her construction have heen driven in. Abont a thousarid ra.en are now working On the vessel, and more are heing engaged every week. TJltimatelv five thousand men will be employed in an attempt to complete the liner Jn T6cord time.