A MOTOR LINER.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1921, Page 12

A MOTOR LINER.

REVOLUTION IN SHIPPING. BRITAIN LEADS THE WAY. It is hoped to carry out at an early date the trials of the first motor passenger linger to fly the flag of Britain or any other country. This vessel, the Domana, has been built on the Clyde for the British India Line’s service between London and Calcutta, and her performances will be watched with great interest by the shipping world. At one time it seemed probable that Messrs. Elder, Dempster \ and Company would have the distinction of sending to sea the pioneer Diesel-driven passenger ship, but the conversion of this vessel, the Aba, formerly one of the Glen Line’s cargo boats, has been delayed by labor and other troubles. The Domala, and two sister ships which are building, will have a gross tonnage of 9000, and will have accommodation for 135 first and second-class passengers. Two motors with a combined horse-power of 4660 will give a speed of thirteen knots on a fuel consumption of slightly under 16 tons of oil per 24 hours. Taking the price of oil at £5 per ton, the daily fuel bill will work out at about £BO, whereas a steamer of similar size would consume about 65 tons of coal a day, which at 30s a ton. represents a fuel bill of £97 10s. The advantages of the motor ship by no means end here. While a steamer must replenish her bunkers at frequent intervals —a long and dirty job, as all ocean voyagers are aware—the motor vessel can carry sufficient fuel oil in her double bottom for a round voyage. On the North Atlantic service it is a matter of indifference to the passenger whether his ship is coal or oil-fired, as the bunkering is done before he goes on board. But on Eastern voyages the replenishment of coal bunkers is a trying and vexatious experience, the coal dust penitrating to saloons and staterooms, and making promenades unusable until they have been thoroughly cleansed. When the Domala is fuelled ill that will be necessary will be tlje connection of the bunker tanks with a shore reservoir or an oil barge by means of flexible oil pipes, through which the oil will Le quickly and quietly pumped. Another great advanatge lies in the fact that the motor-driven ship has no boilers, smaller engine-room spaces, and can dispense with the funnels. The result is that there is more internal space available in the best part of. the ship for passenger accommodation, and also more extensive promenades, relatively unencumbered by ventilators. Though the superior economies of the Diesel engine have been recognised for some years, its use marks such a revolution in ship propulsion that owners and builders have been somewhat conservative in their adoption of the internal combustion engine. Within the next few years there should be quite a considerable fleet of motor passenger vessels in commission. Apart from the British ships building or contemplated, three at least are under construction in Italy for the Atlantic service; while both in Sweden and Denmark plans have been prepared for Diesel passenger ships.