GREAT NEW LINER.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 303, 29 August 1929, Page 3

GREAT NEW LINER.

DRIVEN BY ELECTRICITY. Reaiarkabla Development. A tentative announcement regarding. the method of propulsion to be used in the great White Star liner now being built at Belfast was made by Lord Kylsant, chairman of the line, at the dinner of the Institute •of Marine Engineers. -He said the question whether the machinery for generating the electricity should take the form of steam turbines or motor engines had been receiving long and anxious consideration. Everything now indicated “ the probability that internal combustion engines would be best adapted to produce the enormous electrical power required to be developed to propel so large a vessel at high speed.” The fact that it might be possible to utilise motor engines, coupled with the electric drive, for this ship constituted a further remarkable development in marine engineering. If the probability proves to be the case the vessel will give British shipbuilding and marine engineering the lead in three respects, for not only will she be the largest ship afloat but she will have the largest instal- j lations both of Diesel engines and of electrical plant yet used at sea (says J the London Times). What will be the ; power required to drive her has not j been definitely stated; but if, as | seems likely, it will exceed 100,000 j shaft horse-power, her engines will be ' about four times more powerful than those of the Italian motor liner Augustus, which at present holds first place, and her electrical equipment will surpass in a still higher ratio that of the new P. and O. liner Viceroy of India and the American ships California and Virginia, which are the largest in which electric propulsion has yet been embodied. The new ship will mark a fresh stage in the triumphant progress of the marine Diesel engine, and any who are disposed to regret it as another | example of the displacement of coal must comfort themselves with the hope that some day the original aim j of Dr. Diesel will be realised and j success attained in the effort to use - powdered coal directly os the fuel of j internal combustion engines. 1