STANDARDISED STEAMER.
WAR OPAL AT AUCKLAND. MANY SAFETY DEVICES. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line have chartered the steamer War Opal, which arrived in Auckland form New York on Friday morning, on her maiden voyage. She attracted considerable attention, in view of the fact that her appearance is different from that of the ordinary cargo steamer (says the Herald). Her rig is similar in some respects to the Kent. Both vessels have their cargo gear fitted to Sampson posts and masts which lower down if necessary, leaving only one standing, and -this jb stepped on one side of the steamer near the bridge, and is used for signalling purposes. The War Opal is a standardised ship, and belongs to the Crown. She will remain under the control of the British Shipping Controller until peace is declared and arrangements made for disposing of her and many other standardised steamers.
Over 600 steamers with the prefix.' "War" attached to their names now appear in the latest Lloyd's Regißter. They range from vessels of 3000 tons to 12,000 tons, and all were built from standardised plans according to the class of trade they were intended for. The War Opal is the latest war cargo steamer, and was designed before the end of the war was in sight. Her plans were drawn in the light of the experience of four years of submarine warfare, and, consequently, many devices are fitted in the steamer to aid her to escape destruction at the hands of the enemy. Very little woodwork is used in the inside lining of the vessel and in the crew's accommodation. This is done to diminish the danger from fire in the case of a shell from a submarine bursting inside the steamer. To forestall danger if spies are on board, the wireless can only be operated by consent of the master. He has a key fitted over his berth by which he is able to cut off the wireless current at will. It is fitted to his bunk, so that if the vessel is torpedoed at night he cxan reach up and switch on the ourrent to allow the S.O.S. signal to be given. In case the vessel is torpedoed and the dynamo in the engine-room is damaged, a strong set of emergency batteries are carried on the bridge deck to allow wire, less communication to be carried on Another switch near at hand gives the .master control of all the lights on board, and he can instantly switch them out to prevent the vessel from being detected at night. Should the engineroom telegraph be shot away he can signal to the engine-room by an emergency bell fitted on the bridge. The crew's safety is looked to by their heing berthed aft, as so many men sleeping forward have been killed when a vessel has struck a mine forward. Should any of the engine-room staff be in the tunnel when tiie vessel is struck by a torpedo they can escape to the deck up hatchways fitted for the purpose. Owing to the shortage of timber in England, the vessel \ia fitted with pirdcr derricks built of flat iron rivetted diagonally across. These derricks are lighter and stronger than the wooden ones, and can lift a safe wqrking load of sis tons.
The War Opal is 6Woo.tons gross, and can carry 11,300 tons dead weight. When fully loaded she draws 29 feet, and can steam 11 to 12 knot.
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Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1919, Page 5
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575STANDARDISED STEAMER. Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1919, Page 5
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