THE WIND-JAMMER.

Shannon News, 4 January 1927, Page 3

THE WIND-JAMMER.

POSSIBILITY OF REVIVED TRADE

Sir George Hunter, the veteran shipbuilder, believes that sailing vessels are likely to re-appear in large numbers Upon the seven seas. He contends that the high cost of operatiug coal or oilburning freighters has made possible the competition of sailing craft. lie points out that the speed of the average power-propelled freighter of to-day is not so good as that of a well-can-vassed vessel. A goodly-sized sailing i vessel is capable of carrying as much or more freight than an engine-propelled craft, with a great saving in overhead costs, such as fuel, crew ami supplies. "There is no reason why sailing vessels should not be employed to good advantage on many of the trade roir es," said Sir George Hunter in a recent interview. '' On long runs with f avou • able trade winds the sailing vessel is unquestionably far cheaper of operation than a coal or oil-burning steamship With favourable winds the sailing vessel is capable of as great or even greater speed than the average freighter. Why, in the days when sailing vessels were the dominant factor on the seas, many were capable of from fifteen to even seventeen knots speed. The average freighter is not capable of such speed. "Sailing vessels have been forced to operate under many handicaps in their competition with steamships. Th ; steamship, for instance, is allowed 23

per cent, oft' its gross measurement tonnage in the matter of dockyard charges. The sailing vessel is required to pay its full dues as to measurement. This U not fair to the sailing vessel. Furthermore, in v the discharge of cargo, the steamship is even given preference over the sailing ship, and this results in long delays that work a hardship on the sailing vessel. "Of course, the out-and-out sailing vessel is dependent entirely upon the winds, and a calm may mean days, and even weeks,' of delay. With the addition of an auxiliary engine, the sailing ship is riot placed at the mercy of the winds, and for slow freight or long runs can successfully cope with the coal and oil-burning steamer. I see no reason why there should not be a revival of the sailing vessel, and if no solution is found for the high cost of operation of steamers due to the fuel problem, you will no doubt find more and mora sailing vessels our the ocean highways."