NEW FERRY STEAMER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 1

NEW FERRY STEAMER

WELLINGTON-LYTTELTON SERVICE CONTRACT LET TO VICKERS Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Vickers, Armstrong, Ltd., has received the contract for the Union Steam Ship Company’s new ferry steamer for the Wellilngton-Lytttelton service. The new vessel, which is to be built at Barrow-on-Furness, will have turbo-electric drive, supplied by the British - Thomson - Houston Company, of Rugby, in collaboration with Vickers, Armstrong, Ltd. The plans and specifications prepared by the Union Company show that the new ship will embody the experience gained from the operation of an inter-island express passenger, mail and cargo service, with specially designed steamers, for nearly a quarter of a century.

In many respects the new vessel will be far in advance of the Maori. In size, the new steamer will be about 1,000 tons larger than the Wahine. and probably of approximately 5,500 tons. Provision is made for up-to-date accommodation for 1,000 passengers in two classes. There will be special suites and single rooms to meet the ever-growing demands of travellers. A large number of singleberth and two-berth rooms, many of the latter fitted with Pullman berths, convertible into one-berth staterooms if required, will be a special feature. The interior decorations and furnishings of the public apartments will accord with the latest in passenger liner design. For the rapid handling of mails, baggage, cargo, and the carriage of motor-cars, special provision has been made. The ship will be equipped with most up-to-date appliances. Her designed speed, fully loaded, is 204 knots. Her name has not yet been announced.