AUSTRALIAS HIPS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1920, Page 2

AUSTRALIAS HIPS

MERCHANT VESSELS BUILDING. GOOD PROGRESS AT VICKERS. * j FIRST LAUNCHING JN AUGUST.

LONDON, June 9. Vickers, Ltd., expect to launch the first 'Commonwealth 22,500-ton steamer at.the end of August. It is hoped that Mrs Watt will christen the vessel, which will he ready for commission in February. The work has been greatly speeded up during the yast two months-. The double bottom has been completed, and the side framings, deck beams, and bulkheads are approaching completion. The second vessel will probably' be launched at the end of October. The progress thus far is that the doubel-bot-tom framework has been completed,, and. the shell-bottom and tank-top are practically complete, while the side frames are one-third complete. A start has been made with the building up of the first tier of beams. The third vessel is aHo well forward, and should he launched at the beginning of 1921. Strikes held up progress with the two liners constructing at Bearan.f Glasgow, where the platers were the latest to down- tools, t The first is expected to be launched at the end of the year. The keel of the second vessel is

wholly assembled, and her laying down , will begin next week. She will be launched about April. When the three 22,000 ton steamers are completed, Australia will own a fine fleet of sh ips. It is intended to fit the new steamers with passenger accommodation and refrigerating space, and generally they will represent the last word in British shipbuilding. It will be the advent of the 22,000 tonners, however, which will make history for the Commonwealth Line. Up to the present no merchant vessel of the size of the new liners has visited the Commonwealth. The new steamers will be about 4000 tons bigger than the Ceramic. The order for the construction of the I new vessels was the first definite step j towards placing the Commonwealth in 1 a position to fight the combine on the question of freights if it ever becomes ■ necessary. Of the fleet now in commission, the ex-ohemy ships are the only vessels really capable of competing with the modern British tramp, though the fleet has rendered a fine service since the inception of the line. The first purchase on behalf of the Commonwealth — the Strath line—comprised mostly old ships of small tonnage and Slow speed.