MERCHANT MARINE.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 6, 1 April 1907, Page 211

MERCHANT MARINE.

The most significant event of the year in the merchant marine has been the steady advance in the performance and popularity of the steam turbine, as a drive for ships of all sizes, types and speeds. It is true that in proportion to the number of ships afloat, or even of those building, the number of turbine-driven vessels is as yet very small ; but the uniformly excellent results obtained with the latest and most improved forms of marine turbines point, with increasing emphasis, to this as the ultimate type of engine for all vessels, unless we except the tramp steamers of large capacity and low speed. The year has witnessed the launch of the two Cunarders, the weight of each vessel as she went down the ways being over 16,000 tons. These ships, 786 feet long, 88 feet beam, 60 feet deep, and of 45,000 tons displacement, are considerably the largest afloat. Their contract speed is 25J knots on trial : their contract horse-power 68,000. Outside these vessels, and a sister ship to the Kaiser William 11, building for the North German Lloyd Company, all of the new transatlantic liners belong to the large, moderate speed, freight and passenger type, represented by the Kaisenn Augustc Victoria oi the HamburgAmerican Line, which made her maiden voyage during the year, and the new Adriatic of the White Star Line. A vessel which attracted considerable attention at various ports in 1906 was the great auxiliary clipper R. C. Rickmers, which has the distinction of being the largest sailing ship afloat ; her length being 441 feet, and her displacement 11,360 tons. She is equipped with an auxiliary steam engine of 750 indicated h.p. Under steam she can make from 6 to 8 knots an hour, and under sail she has made 16.

The tonnage of the Italian Mercantile Marine has lecently been increasing at an abnormal rate, especially in the direction of large twin-screw steamers fitted for carrying emigrants, of whom an increasing number cross the Atlantic every year.