A FLOATING FACTORY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1930, Page 3

A FLOATING FACTORY

> NEW SIR JAMES ( LARK ROES

LARGEST MOTOR. TANKER, .

Further particulars are to hand regarding the new b.g new motor whaling factory ship, winch is to replace the Sir Janies Clark Ross, a regular visitor to Wellington oil her wealing expeditions in the past. The now vessel, which also hears the name, Sir James Clark Ross, was launched on 30th. April from" the Haverton-Bill-on-Tees yards of the Furness Shipbuilding Company, Ltd. for the Rossliavet Whaling Company, Saudefjord, Norway, having been built under the supervision of .Messrs Arnesen, Christensen and Smith, Neweastle-on-Tyne. The machinnry was constructed' by Messrs Bnrmeister and Waiii, Copenhagen. Her keel was laid last September and her official trials are expected to take place- this month.

The ship is built' to carry over 20,000 tons of oil, and is therefore the largest iwonor 'tanketr affoat, apart from Jier other unique characteristics. The construction (reports “The Motor Ship”) is on the IslierWood brack-etlcss system, the propelling plant, being arranged aft, while a complete, factory is installed for dealing, with the ca-i - eases of. whales delivered by the fleet of chasers.

THE- SPECIFICATIONS

The main particulars of her hull and

. machinery are as follows: Length, 5 dOft; breadth, 7-1 ft. Jin; depth. -18 ft 9in; draught, loaded,-28ft; deadweight carrying capacity (with 2 per cent, deduction), 20,310 tons; -fuel hunkers, including boiler oil, 1750 tons; speed, loaded, 11 knots; total machinery power 460Qh.p.; number of cylinders to Facli. engine, G; diameter, 630 mm.;

stroke, 13C0mm.; revolutions, 125 per minute; specified mimimum revolutions, 45 per min.;'crews and staff, 225-per-sons ; classification, Lloyd’s 100 AT.

In the construction of the vessel, many problems totally different from those usually associated with a.n ordinary co-go carrier had to he con-

sidered. The possibility of the ultimate failure of the whaling industry through the 'depletion of the supplies was also borne in mind, and in the event of her being no longer able to he employed economically in the whaling industry, she will he able to serve as an ordinary tanker.

About, seven years ago whaling, factory shin* wore principally, if not entirely. old s.tr>liners suitably equipped for the wo' l '-:. The next step was to introduce t-'nlc/ w Finally it was decided that the class of ship must be wteci::Hi|- r (lesignc-'l ,' for , the work, and the Sir James Clark Ross is the logical-oiltclYiie pf;this decision.

A YEAR’S -OPERATIONS. Notwithstanding' the • large capacity of the oil tanks, the vessel will begin eacli year's service with all the main tanks full of oil fuel. As each tank is emptied it -i's’ carefully cleaned and whale oil substituted. Gradually, the.efore the ship becomes• converted 'from an oil-tankek and a. 'parent ship to the . chasers, into a whale-oil carrier. When her season’s work is over, the crews leave the chokers, take up their -quarters on the big ship and return home.

Accordingly, the- vessel fii sit leaves Norway for Trinidad where Diesel fuel and boiler oil are bunkered to the extent indicated, and she then proceeds do the Antarctic *>r eight months. Three moults are occupied in the voyages to and from the whaling fields, leaving a month lor overhauling etc. The oil purifying apparatus is on an extensive scale, comprising numerous centrifugal and gravity separators, in addition to purifiers for the engine fuel oil. «

Four main boilers provide steam for various purposes, and the total heating surface is 10,009 sq. IT. -'There is a steam-engine-driven auxiliary plant, a pupiping system to supply all needs, and two 50-ton evaporators. The exhaust from the boilers and engines is led to two funnels arranged atlnvartsbips. It i;s arranged that the auxiliary plant is all-electric when the ship is underway. The two main engines are of the air-less injection type. Thev are of the- usual single-acting fourstroke design, fitted with crossliends and each engine drives a bilge pump. Two auxiliary Diesel-engine generators are installed.

SKA PLANE AND MOTOR TUG There is a suite of rooms for the captain, comprising 'a sitting-room, bedroom, and bathroom, with a similar suite for the manager, hut a full description of the .accommodation lor the ship’s personnel will not be available until she is completed. On the forecastle are two steam winches operating a pair (of 15-ton derricks, while handle a motor tug Boat and a seaplane respective!’.-. As mentioned previously, the seaplane is used for sighting whales. The steering gear is.of the all-elec-tric type. An important feature is the provision of a Sperry gyro-com-pass installation. The wireless equipment is sufficiently powerful t.o enable daily communication to he established between. Norway and the Antarctic. Refrigerated store-rooifis and gunpowder room? are provided, and there is suitable accommodation for the chasers’ gunners. There is also

provision for an engineers’ smithy and workshop, a carpenter’s shop, a laboratory, and a hospital and dispensary. The Sir James Clark Ross can he expected at Wellington on her maiden voyage early nex't summer.