Limit of Ships' Size.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 September 1914, Page 2

Limit of Ships' Size.

Every time that a ship larger than any predecessor is launched there are sure to be published articles by the scientific and non-scien-tific, showing by arithmetical progression just how soon we may expect ships half a mile long, etc. M. Bertin, formerly chief of Naval construction in France, has contributed to the Academy of Sciences a paper in which he points out that there is limit to profitable size. He shows that as size increases there is a relatively greater increase in the structural weights. The huge size of a 90,000 ton boat, for instance, would demand so heavy construction, according to his calculation, that there would be room for only 465 tons of cargo after allowing for engines and coal. By his reckoning a ship of 50,000 tons has the most cargo space of all. (He uses the metric ton). Cargo space in proportion to size is greatest in the 30,000-ton boat. In regard to speed he estimates the 40,000-ton boat the most economical, after making clue allowance for cargo space. Of course, these calculations are based on the present state of science. Engines with more power for the same weight would modify them, or some new method of making steel, so that the weight of hull and frame might be reduced.