UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1928, Page 1

UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT

STEAMER PORT WELLINGTON

AUTOMATIC HELMSMAN AND

S.O.S. DETECTOR

AUCKLAND, Nov. 20

All the latest mechanical and scientific appliances are embodied in the special equipment of the Port Wellington, the C. and D. steamer commanded by Captain €. N. -Tones, which arrived from London this morning. During the greater part of the voyage from London via Panama, the ship was steering without a helmsman. The device used was the gyro-compass in conjunction with the automatic electric steersman that keeps the vessel on a set course indefinitely. Spinning at GOOD revolutions a minute the gyroscope that is the principal part of this compass keeps the apparatus at a perfect right angle to the earth, irrespective of the movements of the ship. A needle indicates true north, and bearings may ho taken with an exactitude that is not possible with the old style of compass. The steering apparatus is connected electrically with the gyrocompass and may be set to any course. It is checked every few hours, but beyond that the apparatus controls the ship and takes her to wards .her destination. Another feature of the Port Wellington’s equipment is an automatic S.O.S. attachment in the wireless house. This remarkable invention enables the wireless set to be automatically and constantly on the watch for S.O.S. signals. It will record no other signals, but when the dreaded S.O.S. is sent out it is picked up and alarm bells ring on tlie bridge and in tbe wireless officer’s cabin. A wireless direction finder which enables tbe ship to take bearings from various stations on land, and a powerful searchlight, an unusual feature of a cargo vessel, have been ad dud to the special equipment of the Port Wellington.