UNION COMPANY'S FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 4 January 1915, Page 7

UNION COMPANY'S FLEET.

♦ I STEAMERS UNDER CONSTRUCTION THE 1015 PROGRAMME.

In keeping with past traditions, and in order to maintain the progressiva standard of the Red Funnel fleet, the Union Company has now under construction three large steamers—one for the Vancouver mail and passenger service, and two large cargo vessels, similar to the ill-fated Tyrone, one of them bein" designed to replace that vessel, and the other being built to meet the expansion which is taking place in the Home trade, in which the Roscommon, Limerick and Westmeath are now engaged Tlie Union Company's annual report ■rives tlie following interesting details concerning the vessels now under construction:—"A contract was let to the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company for the Vancouver steamer. She will be essentially a high-class mail steamer with a sea speed of 101 knots, and in view of the growing trade in dairy produce, meat, and"fruit between Australasia and Vancouver, she will be specially fitted for refri"erated cargo. Sim will have accommodation for 45S first and second class passen"ers, and permanent accommodation for 217 third-class passengers, which can be extended as required. Her public rooms and appointments will place her in the front rank of passenger ships. After consultation with the builders, it was decided to adopt what is known as the cruiser stern, which possesses distinct advantages over the older type. Tn her ni"ine and boiler-room advantage has been taken of the latest improvements, ner water-tube boilers are designed for use of either oil fuel or coal, and the steam, which will be superheated, will driie two sets of geared turbines. Delivery of this vessel was to have been made in April next, but on account of pressure to complete warships, it is not likely she will leave the builders' hands before the following June. The cargo steamers are being built in the yards of Messrs Swan, Hunter, Wighiim, Richardson, Walls-end-on-T.yno, and Sir Raylton Dixon and Co., Middlesbro'. The one building by the former will have something over 12,0011 tons gross register. Her deadweight will be nearly 10.000 tons, and her sea speed will be It 1 /; knots. She will have large refrigerating engines and her insulated holds will accommodate 130,000 carcases of mutton with space for extension if necessary. She will also lie available to carry a large number of passengers. The steamer building at Middlesbro' will be somewhat smaller., about 10,000 tons gross register, a deadweight of 10,000 tons and a "capacity for llo.OOu carcases of mutton. Both these ships will have cruiser sterns, and will be driven by geared turbines superheated steam being Used. Thev' will differ from the passenger steamer building bv Fairfield's in having Scotch boilers, and being dc-igned to burn coal only. Delivery of the steam- ,.,. i!»il..|- oonsimotion at Midle.-hro" was to be given this month, while tlie one building on the Tvue was to be completed bv .lulv. l!)i:>. Unfortunatelv, both will 'probablv be delaved for the same 'i rea-on that nppleis to the Fairfield [■( earner.