NEW LINERS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1929, Page 2

NEW LINERS

■ ■■■>' •'’t'vfy'v .. . FOR PACIFIC TRADE,

SAN FRANCISCO-SYDN EY

SERVICE

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30

Details, of the proposed new Matson liners for the San Francisco-South Seas service of the Sail Francisco line have just been announced in San Francisco by A. C. Diericx, vice-presi-dent of the company, who recently returned from Washington to California. Concerning the two new ships Mi'' Diericx issued the following statement “The designs for the Matson NavJgaton Company’s new Australian diners have been approved by the Navy Department and the United 'States Shipping Board. Bids will be called for shortly. The vessels will rate, as Class 2 under the Jones-'V bite Bill and will be capable of a sustained sea speed of 20 knots. It is expected these vessels will cost in the neighbourhood ol 13,000,000 dollars and a substantial low interest loan will be made by the Shipping Board out of the .250,000,000 dollar loan fund created by the Jones-White Merchant Marine Act. “These liners will mark the first step ‘to revive the American merchant marine on the Pacific with Government aid under the new law. Being constructed under the revised regulations of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, the new ships will be practically unsinkable. As with the Malolo. their bulk beading will be so arranged that with. an> two compartments flooded to the level of the sea. the vessels will stay afloat at a reasonable draft. They will be twin-screw, with cruiser sterns 625 feet long on the water line, with beams of 76 feet and displacement of 26,600 tons. “Their propulsion machinery will be geared steam turbine of a maximum horse-power of 25,000. with boiler pressure of 360 pounds, and superheaters of sufficient capacity to raise the steam temperature to 650 degrees. Ail auxiliaries will be electrically operated, the generators for this purpose aggregating over 2000 horse-power.

“Cooking will be done by electricity, and while the public rooms will be heated by steam and the quarters generally by heated air on the ther-mo-tank system, a large portion of the passenger quarters will be arranged for electric heating. There will be accommodation for 460 first-class. 200 second-class, and 70 third-class passengers, with spacious public rooms for each class.

“While the recently signed MatsonOceanic mail contract requires completion of one vessel by October Ist, 1931, and the second vessel by October Ist, 1932, it is more than probable that both ships will be started simultaneously early in the new year in order to have both vessels in coinmission prior to October. 1931. “When completed the new liners will replace the Sierra, Sonoma, and Ventura, and although of a type on like the Malolo. the ships will have two funnels and clipper bows. Each vessel will have 25.001) cubic feet ol refrigerated cargo space to carry fresh fruit and other Californian products to Hawaiian. South l’acilio, and Australian markets.” Plans for tin* vessels were prepare" l,y Air A. C. Diericx, vice-president ol the Matson Navigation Company, with the co-operation of the U.S. Navy Department, and assisted by Mr (!. K. Nichols, manager of engineering and repairs. Belli vessels have been planned for use in war time as naval auxiliary ships.