PORT MELBOURNE HERE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 773, 20 September 1929, Page 11

PORT MELBOURNE HERE

FIRST VISIT SINCE RACE WITH PORT PIRIE NEW TURBINE INSTALLED Fitted with a new Bauer Wach auxiliary turbine, or "Monkey Gland,” as it is now commonly called, the C. and D. Line’s steamer Port Melbourne arrived at Auckland this morning from London, via Suva, having averaged more than 13 knots an hour for the voyage from London to Auckland, compared with her previous speed of just on 12 knots. The Port Melbourne was at Auck- j land in March last when she and another of the company’s steamers, Port Pirie, took the bulk of the February wool sale Home. A race between the two ships took place, and the Port Melbourne was the winner by about three hours. Both vessels ' left Auckland at 10 p.m. on March 13, and berthed at London on the same tide on April 18, but the Port Melbourne took the pilot on board at i Dungeness three hours before the | Port Pirie. i This is the first time that either of the two vessels has beeh to Auckland since the race Home. While at Home from her last voyI age, the Port Melbourne was taken jto Newcastle-on-Tyne where the Bauer Wach. auxiliary turbine was installed. The Bauer Wach installrxj tion, which consists of a turbine utilising the exhaust steam, is geared to each propellor shaft, and enables the engines to develop 1,000 h.p. extra, with a corresponding increase in speed of at least one knot. The Port Hardy, j which was the first of the C. and L). Line’s fleet to be fitted with a Bauer Wach turbine, has since made two voyages to Australia, -\%i Suez, and on each occasion she arrived at Melbourne 37 days after leaving London, an average speed of. 13.2 knots as compared with her former 12 knots. Following the success attained by the installation of a Bauer Wach turbine in each of the reciprocatingengined liners, Port Auckland. Port Denison, Port Hardy and Port Sydney, the line announces that similar equipment will be installed on the Port Brisbane. Port Campbell, Port Darwin and Port Wellington. The Port Campbell and Port Darwin are at present under overhaul in England, having the necessary alterations made to their engines, while extensive alterations are also being made to the turbine steamers Port Adelaide. Port Bowen and Port Caroline. The blades of the turbines in these liners are being rearranged to give greater efficiency and, as in the case of the reciprocating steamers, an increase of speed of at least one knot is expected.