THE P. AND O. COMPANY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 18, 13 May 1914, Page 4

THE P. AND O. COMPANY.

The most recently issued list of the fleet of the famous P. and 0. Company contains some interesting details. The total tonnage shown amounts to 546.000 tons gross register, contained in some ninety-eight bottoms. But of these, twenty-eight craft totalling 3448 tons, consist of tugs and tenders, of which the largest is the 1061 tons Harlington, occupied in carrying coals and cargo between the north-east coast of England and the Thames. The nest important of these vessels in point of size is the Dewan, of 282 tons, stationed in Bombay, whilst there are launches and such like craft down to a mere eight tons register with engines down to as low as 3-h.p. nominal. The ocean-going fleet—after deducting these little craft—is of 542,553 tons, and of 571,000-h.p. Eight of these vessels, however, are either building or completing. These include the first-class mail steamer Kaiser I. Hind, of 11,400 tons gross register, six other "K's" of 9000 tons and 9000-h.p. each, and the Branch liner Borda of 11,100 tons and 9000h.p. for the London-Cape-Australian service. When the last named is in commission the Branch line will have seven vessels engaged in it, and all of the twin-screw type. For the P. and 0. business proper—that is the mail service—there are fifty-eight vessels of 402,038 tons register, and of which no less than thirty-eight are twin-screws. There are ten vessels of the "M" type, such as the Medina and Maloja, and eight of the slightly smaller N. class, all of which have been addecl in recent years. Meanwhile, of the seventeen single screw vessels still shown in the list, rapid disposal is being made, a whole class comprising the Palawan, Borneo. Sundra, and Sumatra, of about 4500 tons and 3500 i.h.p. having been sold since the fleet list was compiled. All the vessels named were constructed en the Clyde by Messrs Caird and Co. and A. Stephens and Co., in 1895, and have been acquired by Japanese or Indian firms, who require palatial craft in their respective businesses.