A WHALE FACTORY.

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

A WHALE FACTORY.

LAUNCHED AT BELFAST. One of the most novel sh ps ever built was launched at Be.fast on May 30, when Messrs Workman, Clark, sent afloat the s.s. Kosmos, which will be used as a whale oil factory sh : p and oil tanker (writes a correspondent of the Daily Telegraph). She has been built for Norwegian owners to the order of Mr Anders Jahre, the pioneer of the pelagic whaling industry. The Kosmos is a vessel of about 32,000 tons displacement, is 550 feet a length, and is constructed on the longitudinal system to the highest j requirements of Lloyd’s Register and j the Norwegian Sea Control Regulations. The whaling factory itself is situated in the upper ’tween decks, i which are over 155 decks deep, and is equipped with the maximum catch j of whales.

The weather deck above the factory has been arranged clear of obstructions to facil.tate the handling of the whales and the cutting up. The vessel is fitted with numerous powerful winches capable of handling up to 40 tons and in conjunction with special derricks.

The propelling machinery has been built by Workman, Clark (1928) Ltd., and consists of quadruple expansion engines taking steam from five cylindrical oil-fired multitubular boilers working at 2501 b. pressure under forced draught and with superheated steam. In the engine room there are a number of new features dssignd to cope with the special trade on which the vessel wi 1 be employ'ed in the Antarctic Seas.

Accommodation is provided for over 300, with special facilities for storage and cooking provisions necessary for the long voyage and service, anJ in this connection reference might he made to the enormous fresh water distill ng plant. This vessel is the first of the kind specially built as a wha ing factory, the existing vessels to date having been converted oil tankers, and the new firm of Messrs Workman, Clark (1928), Ltd., are maintaining the traditions of the old firm in pioneer ship building. It is expected tljat the Kosmos will be ready for service in two months.