HUGE, SPEEDY LINERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 932, 27 March 1930, Page 14

HUGE, SPEEDY LINERS

BATTLE FOR ATLANTIC BLUE RIBBON TWO GREAT CUNARDERS The new Atlantic record made this week by the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer Europa attracts attention to great new ships now being planned, to compete for the blue ribbon of the Atlantic. Although the five-Power naval conference may achieve something in the way of reduction of the navies of the principal maritime nations, it will not mean idleness in the shipyards of these countries by any means. This summer will see the climax of feverish preparations by big shipping lines of the world for the Atlantic blue ribbon. Some idea of the rivalry may be gained from the following summary: First, the Europa has beaten the record of her sister ship, the Bremen, from Cherbourg to New York, making the trip in four days 17 hours 6 min utes; second, the Cunard Line is building two 70,000-ton liners; third, France is planning a super-ship able to beat all these; fourth, two Italian lines have ordered 47,000-tonners capable of 27 knots, and fifth, America is planning to spend £500,000,000 in the next five years, mostly subsidising transatlantic liners. Rate War Foreseen The possibility of a rate war is already seen, with construction virtually keeping pace with travel demands. Now holding the Atlantic blue ribbon, Germany is making strenuous efforts to consolidate lier advantages. Engineers predicted the Europa would profit from the experiences of her sister ship, the Bremen, to attain greater speed, and the Europa has proved them right. This ocean greyhound, which has a crew of approximately 1,000, and passenger accommodations for 2,200, which has a cinema, a natatorium, gymnasium and other facilities that make her the last word in travel luxury. She is to be followed by a modernised Columbus, which makes her maiden trip on May 28. During the summer traffic peak Germany will maintain the world’s fastest weekly service between Europe and America. Cunard Line to Build This, however, will not go unchallenged by the Cunard Line. The old Mauretania has been overhauled to make another attempt to regain her lost crown. Meanwhile plans are advancing for two 70,000 Cunarders which will be faster than anything carrying passengers on the seven seas and also will have better accommodations. They will not be ready for service, however, for two or three years.

Contrasting with these motor-ships the new Britannic goes into service between Liverpool and Boston in April. This ship is purely experimental. Work is being hurried on the new Canadian Pacific 45,000tonner, Empress of Britain, which will be launched and may make her maiden trip before the end of the year. She is designed for 26J knots, but this speed probably will be exceeded. She will make the SouthamptonQuebec crossing in five days—a day and a-half faster than at present. It is said she will enable voyagers to Central Canada and the Middle West of the United States to reach home 12 hours earlier than the fastest service to Nw York.

The boldest bid of all is being made by the French Line, which plans to lay down the keel of the world’s largest liner. This super-ship driven by engines of more than 120,000 horse-power, is expcted to reach 31 knots. Countering is the effort of the Navagazione Generate Italiano and Lloyd Sabaudo, each of which has ordered an Atlantic greyhound of 47,000 tons and 28 knots. On the American side this activity is being watched closely. The United States Lines have projected two vessels, each of 50,000 tons and 28J knots, intended as companions of the Leviathan.