NEW MOTOR LINER

Southland Times, Issue 21099, 3 June 1930, Page 5

NEW MOTOR LINER

THE RANGITATA ARRIVES.

OBJECT OF INTEREST AT BLUFF.

MODERN CARGO HANDLING FACIL ITIES.

As she sailed up the harbour at an early hour yesterday morning on her maiden voyage to Bluff, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s new motor liner Rangitata made an inspiring picture, representing as the vessel docs an outstanding achievement of shipbuilding art. Without difficulty she berthed alongside the main wharf and unloading operations .were subsequently commenced, the vessel having some 1300 tons of general merchandise to put ashore. In the afternoon she was open for inspection and to-day from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. those desirous of seeing for themselves this modern liner, will be afforded ample opportunity to do so. For the remainder of her stay until Friday-, she will be open only- in the afternoons in order to enable discharging and loading operations to be carried out. It is necessary, however, for intending visitors to obtain gangway- passes at the Bluff and Invercargill offices of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The Rangitata is a sister ship to the Rangitane which made her maiden voyage to New Zealand recently. These two ves-

. seis and the Rangitiki, which visited Bluff - on her maiden voyage, some time ago, are ■ similar in design, but. there is a slight difference in the furnishings. Well-travelled passengers are loud in their praise of the Rangitata’s behaviour. I All kinds of weather have been experienced and the vessel has been well-tested. Mr Justice Reed, who was a passenger on a previous voyage, said that he had been greatly impressed by the very luxurious accommodation and the remarkable amount of deck space available. “She is the finest vessel I have ever travelled in,” he remarked, “and I have travelled on a good many lines, including the P. and O. and Dutch and Italian steamers. They, too, are very luxurious, but the Rangitata is the most comfortable of them all.” Similar comments were heard on every hand. Much has been heard of the palatial passenger accommodation on the Rangitata, but to New Zealanders this is not all-im-portant. . The Dominion’s wealth lies in its primary produce, and the most modern facilities are required for its shipment to the great English market. In this respect the Rangitata is not lacking. The vessel provides luxury for passengers iii all classes, but she also provides storage space for refrigerated cargo brought to such a stage of mechanical perfection as to ensure the delivery in excellent condition of her cargoes of butter, cheese, and frozen meat. Refrigerating Machinery. Much money and care has been lavished on the refrigerating machinery on the Rangitata. It embodies all the latest improvements, and the importance attached to it is reflected in the fact that the complete installation with the insulation of the holds was responsible for a third of the total cost of the ship. The initial outlay on the machinery is heavy but the cost of running and maintenance is comparatively slight. The plant which pumps freezing brine to the six holds and all the ship's storerooms occupies very little space when the magnitude of its work is considered. Everything is compact and scrupulously clean. There are three large electric compressors, each of 220 volts, which are driven by electric current from the Diesel engines in the main engine room. Carbon dioxide gas is used for freezing the brine and in the compressing machines it is subjected to a pressure of 13501 b. a square inch. It is then passed to the condensors, one to each compressor, and there passes through coils surrounded by sea water, where it is liquified. The liquid gas passes through needle regulator valves into the evaporators, which are filled with the brine solution used for the actual refrigeration. It expands rapidly, taking heat out of the brine solution to do so, and ultimately reduces the temperature of the solution to 47 degrees below Fahrenheit freezing point. The brine is then pumped through pipes into the holds and storerooms, keeping them like huge ice chests, even when the vessel is passing through tropic seas.

'lhe operation is repeated continuously. After passing through the pipes the brine returns to the evaporators, and when the liquid gas has expanded it passes back to the compressors to be liquified again. There is hardly any waste. Before the vessel made her trial runs at Glasgow last October, the machinery was charged with 120 bottles of liquid carbon dioxide, each containing 401 b., and 30 tons of calcium chloride to make the brine solution up to a density of 48 ounces to the gallon. The same gas and the same brine solution were still in use on her voyage home. However, 100 containers of liquid gas and 10 tons of calcium chloride are carried in case of emergency. There arc three separate sets of machinery in the plant, and two sets are more than sufficient for the refrigeration of a full cargo of 5000 tons, although all would be used in rotation. On the trip to New Zealand the Rangitata carried no refrigerated cargo, but one machine was used for nine hours a day to refrigerate or cool the 15 provision cupboards, 20 cold cupboards, five water coolers, three bars, and two large larders.