EMPRESS OF BRITAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1931, Page 2

EMPRESS OF BRITAIN

FINE PERFORMANCE ACROB3 THE ATLANTIC). FAST RETURN TRIP, (British Official Wirfiifln.) RUGBY, June 14, The newest and largest liner of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company the Empress of Britain, of 42,000 tons concluded a successful maiden voyage when she arrived at Southampton yesterday, from Canada. She set up new records for the trip. An interesting feature of her voyage was the remarably slight variation in the times of her outward and homeward trips from land to land. The journey in each direction occupied! exactly 2 days 6hr 22min. and the average speed both out and home worked out at 23.67 knots. At no time were her engines opened out fully. During her seven days’ steam trials the Empress of Britain attained a maximum speed of 25f knots over the measured mile. She thus exceeded the contract speed by one and a. half knots. With only the two inner engines working she accomplished a speed of nearly 22f knots. During a special twelve hours’ trial she established a new world’s record for the lowest fuel consumption—o.s7lb per Shaft horse-power per hour. Further trials carried out with a new type opf boiler promise that further important advances in propulsion may be expected.

This speed is by no means a record for the Atlantic run, the Blue Riband being held by the German liner Europa with 27.91 knots. The Bremen, 27.83 knots, is second, and the old Alauretnnia 27.25 knots is third.

The Empress of Britain was built by J. Brown and Co., Ltd., on the Clyde, and was launched by the Prince of Wales on June 11 lasi \car. 'ho was designed for the trip bei-w.-c?; (Quebec and! Southampton with the object of reducing the run by a day and a half. She is the biggest ship by 20,000 tons to go up the St. Lawrence River. Her principal dimensions are:—Length, 733.3 ft; beam, 97.8 ft. Every conceivable luxury is provided for the passengers, the equipment including a squash court, gymnasium, swimming bath, open-air tennis court and Turkish and electric baths. Everv modern convenience for the benefit r -f the passengers has been brought into play.