STRATHAIRD LAUNCHED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1931, Page 7

STRATHAIRD LAUNCHED

LUXURIOUS APPOINTMENTS.

LONDON, July 19

“The most perfect launch I have ever seen,” declared the Earl of Inch cape when his daughter, Lady Margaret Shaw, broke a bottle of Austral.an burgundy over the bows of the Strathaird at Barrow-in-Furness today, and the great white hull slid gracefully into the water.

Lord Inch ape revealed in a subsequent speech that the contract for the construction of the Strathnaver and the Strathaird was arranged at Monte Car. lo in 1929 with Sir Bazil Zaharoff, the banker, known as Europe’s “mystery man,” who was acting on behalf o' Vickers, Armstrong’s, Ltd. Lord Inch cape added jokingly that he might have squeezed a little more out of Sir Bazil Zaharoff if he had not been in a gener ous mood after having won 100 francs at the casino.

Captain \W P. Townshend will command the Strathaird, which will leave for Australia in February. A pathetic feature of the ceremony was the (fact that among the crowds cheering the launching were 900 workers whose employment has ceased owing to the lack of new orders. The guests had earlier inspected the sister-ship Strathnaver, which is nearly completed, and which in size and luxury excels all previous vessels used! in the service to Australia. Her amen, ities include f 'talkies” both for saloon and tourist class passengers, hot and cold air streams, which can be blended at will) a luminous silent cabin bell system, and swimming baths in both classes.

The sister ships will each have two spare propellors One will be left at Sydney and one at Bombay. They will be used, in the event of mishap. It is estimated that the white hulls and upper decks will produce an internal temperature 4deg. lower than the usual temperature.

The Strathnaver and Strathaird, each of 21,000 tons gross register, will be used in the P. and* O. mail service between London and Australian ports. With a sea speed of 22 knots, produced by 28,000-shaft horse-power turbo-electric machinery, they will be the largest and fastest vessels in the Australian service. Each vessel will have accommodation for 498 first saloon and 6GB tourist saloon passengers, including 262 single-berth cabins. Special attention has been given to provision for passengers travelling by the tourist class. Insulated space for the carriage of refrigerated cargo has been provided in two holds and two “lower between, decks” in each vessel. The Strathnaver was launched in February, and is expected to leave London on her maiden voyage in October. The buidling of the vessels involved an expenditure of about £2,500,000 in wages. The Strathnaver was named after the River Strathnaver, in SutherlandshLre and the Strathaird' after Strathaird Point on Loch Clapin, in the Isle of Skye.