OIL FUEL AT SEA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1121, 12 July 1913, Page 4

OIL FUEL AT SEA.

SUCCESS ON NIAGARA.

EOW COST AND LABOUR SAVING.

GOOD STEAMING TIMES

Burning oil fuel only, the mail steamer Niagara came down from Vancouver to Auckland at an average speed of knots. She arrived in port without the slightest mishap, the first oceangoing vessel using only oil fuel to enter a New Zealand port.

Coal was used on the steamer during her maiden voyage to Auckland and on her first trip in the Canadian service. During her stay in Vancouver, from May 27 to June ix, the equipment of the furnaces for oil fuel was installed, the work being completed by the engineers in readiness for the steamer’s departure on contract time. Fourteen compartments foim the oil reservoir, with a capacity of 5000 tons. Four thousand tons of oil were taken aboard at Vancouver, and this quantity will be sufficient for the round trip from Vancouver to Auckland and Sydney and the return voyage, A further supply of 350 tons may be taken in at Honolulu, The operation of replenishing the fuel supplies is simple compared with coaling. While the

steamer lay in her berth at Vancouver, an oil-tank steamer moored alongside and pumjped oil into her tanks at the rate of 100 tons per hour.

Economy aud cleanliness are among the advantages of oil fuel. Before its admission to the furnaces the oil is heated to firing point, which varies from 230 degrees to 250 degrees, and is then pumped at a high pressure through nozzles, from which the vapourised oil escapes in a cone-shaped spray that distributes a fierce heat over the furnace crown. The apparatus requires little attention, and the stokehold staff of the Niagara now comprises nine men, the three men forming a watch having each a stokehold under his supervision. Thirty two firemen and trimmers were discharged at Vancouver, so that the saving in wages is about per mouth. During the voyage the consumption of oil was 90 tons in 24 hours, as compared with about 160 tons of coal, and as oil costs 19s per ton, and coal 16s per ton, in Vancouver, the direct saving in fuel is approximately 27 per cent. The use of oil fuel will in the case of the Niagara obviate visits to Newcastle for coaling) and a repetition of that operation at Vancouver. All the impedimenta required for maintaining steam on coal have been discarded aud the wheelbarrows, shovels aud rakes have been replaced by a few feet ol piping aud some machinery. The stokehold of the steamer is one of the cleanest parts of the ship. It has been painted white throughout, aud is wonderfully cool. The ship’s officers are thoroughly satisfied with the results of the experiment. The master (Captain John Gibb) said that during the voyage only eight ot the ten boilers were used, and he bad no doubt the ship could steam 18 knots under her full power. He spoke in warm terms of approval ot the vessel’s seagoing qualities, aud added that there would have been no difficulty in reaching port at 5 p.m. on Monday.