New-York tribune., 1920-11-12
Bulk of Ships
Built Here to
Burn Oil Fuel
Under 2 Per Cent of All
Now Being Constructed
Are Designed to Consume
Coal Supply ENclusive'
Differs From British Plan
LordPirrie's Warming milne
With Tendency to Secure
Convertible Cargo Boats

How general the trend toward the
use Of oil as marine fuel has become
Nth American shipowners is indicated
br the fact that out Of million and
quarter gross tons OF vessels now
beng constructed FOR private account
American shipsards only l.9 per
~er. IS TO use coal exclusively. In
;rsat Britain, while the sentiment in
' iagor Of oil fuel has grown to
marked degree since the beginning of
ne war, the percentage OF coal burning
tonnage is much greater than in this
country.
I; is from British shipbuiloer, Lori
' prrie. that a warning has just come
against overreliarce on oil for marine
'Uel pending the uncertainty as to the !
assurance of adequate supplies OF oil
for long period OF years to come.
As head OF the Harland {, Wolf
plants which have built many of the
argest ocean liners and which have
' recently Engaged in the conversion of
number Of vessels from coal TO oil
burners. Lord Pirrie's views have 4
special interest for American shipping
men, especially in connection with re-
cert indications that the Cunard Line
intends TO modify its program for the
conversion Of most Of its feet to OIL
No Oil Shortage at Present
few months ago scores of vessels
were tied up in New York and other
American ports because supplies of
uel oil could not then be obtained.
Conditions have changed since then.
however, and today there is an annie
supply, but oil men point out that there
10 guarantee as to how long this
NIL last. The known coal resonrces
ot the country are lar in excess of the
Indicated supplies Of oil, and so far
rs Mexico IS concerned considerable
-rXiety has been caused by constant.
reports o, wells which had been ey-
7ecied to produce great amounts Of oil
turning TO salt water.
III line with these things tho noljcv
o. the large oil companies hAs been to
lFse conservation OF Oil, ra.her than
10 PRESS aggressive sales canpsigus 10
Increase consumption.
some O. the more conservative chin
n'ns interests within the last feu
months nave had plans for conversion
u tneir vessels 10 OIl-Ourner canrollad
ana, IN some Instances. after the ,vorll
b.. conversion mad been begun have
u.-eu o@sN 10 tAe original coal burn
Ae !ns'a.latons. While they realize
Aa' there are undoubted economies in
"e use oj O.. over coa., they believe
IL. ~he cnances OF tlc-ups on account
,. coal shortages are much less than
-ae lAeAhood Of scarcitv Of oil. and
'iai 'n the long run the time lost in
sos ration through inability to secure
cred '''s'N~
la many cases however, shipping in
tits,s are preparing Tor contingent
ii through having their vessels
'qaippea so as TO burn either fuel j.
aeiag possible to make the conversion
por; IN short time and thus obvj-
'te long -ie-ups.
Double-fueI Plan Growing
-a addition to conversions of old
eSsel', much new tonnage being built
or private account in this country at
resent beng constructed on this
p'AA' Vut of $4,000 gross tons Of
,@,so vessels under way recently, TO-
'9' IONS were for the use Of either
gai or OIL. $1,000 for tie use of coal
"'one @hd 5o2V0o for the use OF oil
exclusively. OF S2S.GO0 tons OF tankers
every ship was being bull. for the use
%. OIL alone. Non-propelling vessels.
'V. using ilri. aggregated 81 900 tons.
Ih"t tie growth OF the marine use
" ou iAel has been marked abroad is
,a-eatea hy the fact that Lloyds
Ntt.s,er o. Shipping is now, for the
-sl time. carrying statistics of tanker
sirucuoAs IN its shipbuilding re-
turns. These show that tnirty-two
'SSee@"-golng vessels, asgregating 2Sy,-
YV gross tons. are now being con
'liuc'ed IN Great Britain
NO figures are given relative to the
.en struct,on Of cargo vessels to burn
OIL fuel, but it is known that at June
i's' not far from 20 per cent OF
Tae worlds merota ecots so
equipped. The increase has been rapid
s,hce, and the steady ,rrowth of the use
~ OIL luel Us shown by the great ex-
pansion in exports of bunker oil dur
ng inc last year.
Urges the Use of OIL Engines
Lord Plrrie views the increasing use
o. Dieset engines as an aid TO the con-
stf'"-'on OF OIL supplies, because of the
Fsser amount of fuel needed This
pOhc} Is beng followed abroad, es-
peclally the scandinavian countries,
d much greater degree than in this
souH'fy, but steps arc being taken
,''e 10 extend The use Of oil engines.
'oMe ol the largest American ship
,u.'9ing plants have taken TINS up and
"e building types Of their own.
A. present, however, very little of
lie tonnage building is to be engined
WIN biesels. The Shipping Board has
WY one vessel of thls kind and is
aiming to build one more. but private
O"Verns are expected to 60 into this
2pg Oh tonnage on much larger
large supplies Of fuel oil are L g
imported into Great Britain from
'"'ed States aud Mexico. CONNIE II
s upon the increase Of this trade,
'S'..sh publications arc claiming that
'He gasoline and other oils required
r nome consumption in the United
~.nsaom can be procured from material
sO'lg o1 TO waste or lying tallow in the
'a.Aeids. One large British concern
,n. ported 10 be ready to contract and
aeeS2py material for d plant to treat
IONS OF matter per eight-hour day.
/ ,E 'se plant 1t is stated would pvod ace
SI'vV gallons of gasoline and 100000
Ons o. crude oil ner annum at costs
'0"A!iy below the present level.