The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-02-21 00:00:00

LtUNCH OF THE LARGEST VEiSEL BUILT

ON I'HE MERSEY.

The largest vessel ever built on the banks of the
Mersey was launched on Thursday. the 6th ins:,
Indeed, with the eximption of the Great Eastern, no
longer craft floats in any waters of &tan world. The
new ship is the screw steamer Egypt, built for the
service of the National Steamship Company between
Liverpool aud New York. All the vessels of the
company's 11m..t or of great size, but this latest addition
is snore immense than any of the others. The E4let
is in length over all 440 It., on the load line 433 ft.,
beam 44 ft., depth of hold 36 ft., gross measuretneat
5,150 tuns. This enormous vessel, which has been
built at the yard of the Liverpool Shipbuildug Com-
pany, Limited, Sefton•street, will be propelled by
eogines of nominally 500 horse-power. They are expected
to drive the weasel at from 12 to 13 knots an hour
during her voyages in ordinary weather. The National
Company evidently anticipated a very large emigration
to America from Europe, for all their vessels have most
extensive accommodation fur passengers. Thus the
Egypt will be titled for 190 first-class and 1,403
steerage passengers, for whose relator{ and safety
during the Atlantic voyage every provision will be
made. Indeed, the principal cabins will be fitted with
every adjunct to ease and luxury. Having to encounter
.the severe winter storms of the Atlantic while loaded
with heavy cargoes, the Egypt has been constrained
with every regard to strength and safety. She is •
eomplete four-decker. The upper deck is a flask spar
deck fore and aft, with no obstructions but the cabin
entrances and skylights. This and the deck below are
strongly plated with steel, sea planked with pine. The
two lower decks are plated with iron amidships, where
the drain of the machinery comes, and are also decked
over the seine es the upper decks. The saloons, state
rooms, and off:leers rooms will be heated with steam
' piping, which is found more effective, and is far less
dangerous in a heavy seaway, than stoves. The Egypt
has lye steam winches, and two steam capstans and
windlasses of Napier's make. All the steering sepa-
rates will boo( the most modern approved description.
Indeed, throughout the vessel the work is of the highest
class, for the company are their own insurers, 1110 d
having so mach risk they provide against it by having
Lb. best possible material. The Egypt is said to be
almost paid for out of the premiums saved from pay.
meat to underwriters. She is considered in many
respects the finest piece of naval architecture ever con-
structed in the Kersey. and • tnbute to her nobleness
was paid in the pilgrimage of 4,000 or 5,000 people to
the extreme south end of Wu, port to witness her
launch. As she was *afterwards towed down the liver,
her immense proportions became more evident to the
eye, nod bee great height above the wales ',toenail:nod
her one of the " castles of the deep.!' She has • bold
sheer, and promises to be • good and comfortable ice-
boat. A sister vessel, but • very few feet shorter, to
he called the Spain, is nearly completed sufficiently for
floating at Misers. Laird's works at Birkenhead.