A NEW CLASS OF STEAMER.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 54, 18 February 1902, Page 4

A NEW CLASS OF STEAMER.

Persons who were in the neighbourhood of the docks on Saturday evening (says the “ Cape Times ” of the 14th January) must have been greatly surprised to observe »a steamer of rather ren arkable appearance making its way into Table Bay, and anchoring off the Breakwater. The most remarkable feature of the steamer was that its funnel was situated right - aft. This steamer, the Murex, was built for the purpose of carrying petroleum in bulk, and is one of a fleet of thirty-eight steamers belonging to the Shell Transport and Trading Company (Limited), of London, whose sole agents in South Africa are Messrs Julius Weil and Co., Government contractors. While carrying oil or general cargoes, the Murex uses no coal, its boilers being fired entirely by liquid fuel, which is the residue of crude petroleum after all the lighter oils have been extracted. The steamer has been using this fuel for the last two years with remarkable success, and is now on a voyage from Singapore to London. The great economy resulting from the use of liquid fuel is s i remarkable that there is no doubt that in the near future the major portion of the mercantile marine wilL discard coal in favour of the new fuel. The Murex is so fitted that general cargoes can be carried in the tanks, the system of cleaning and ventilating the tanks being so perfect that the steamers of the company have on various cccasions carried the most delicate cargoes from the Far East, including tea, rice. etc.