New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
100000 Tons
Being Added to
[. WI. WI. 8 Fleet
Bismarck, Largest Ship i'm
World, Will Come Under
Control of am American
Concern as Ocean Liner
Minnekahda NearlyRe ady
Former British Vessel Soon
TO Operate Under Flag Of
u. s.; Build New Laurentic

Purchase of the Bismarck, the
worlds largest ship, for the White
Star Line, which was announced yes
terday. brings the postwar tonnage
to be added to the feet of the Inter
national Mercantile Marine Company
by purchase, new construction in hand
or completion of ships launched un-
finished in the course of the war up
to more than a quarter of million.
This tonnage includes one 1900
ton triple screw ship, the Minnekahda
which was transferred from the British
to the American flag last fall, and is
now nearing completion at the Fore
River works, Quincy, Mass, as a third
class carrier for the American Lines
New York Hamburg service.
Another important unit in the total
is new Laurentic, of 17.400 tons, de-
name torpedoed off the coast of Ire
lands with the loss of large number
of American troops, and about $25,-
100000 in gold. 1t is understood that
the new ship will be similar to the old
and will be employed in the same serv-
ice, namely, between Montreal and
Liverpool, as a first-class combination
passenger and freight carrier AL
though the order for her construction
HAS UetH pldCeu, IL Is stated LnaC de-
tails of her plans are not yet avail
able.
Ten Ships for Leyland Line
One other notable order, announced
for the first time, is for ten 7,300-ton
freighters for the Leyland Line, one of
the important freight carrying subsidi-
aries of the l. M. NJ, with passenger
service out of Boston. These vessels
are to be practically identical in de-
sign and construction. The first ship
recently at the Henderson yard, Glas-
gov, and will be delivered this month
TO her owners. She has been named
the Dakarian.
A second ship of the class, launched
December 20 at the Caledon yard, has
been named the Norwegian. She will
be delivered next month.
Five others of the class also are due
for delivery in 1921 and the three re-
manning in 1922. All but the Norwe-
gian are being built by the Hender-
sons. Besides the two mentioned, five
others have received names, as follows
Dakotian, Darian, Daytonian, Davisian
and Delilian.
The scale plan of the Dakarian, re-
ceived at New York this week, shows a
vessel of the continuous bridge deck
type, affording greatest protection
amidships, and a design with special
features in the way of loading and dis
charging facilities, with five cargo
hatch openings, one being between the
bridge and the funnel. The ships bear
close family resemblance to the well
known Winifredian of the Leyland
like the Winifredian, they will not
carry passengers.
White Star Fleet Increased
In the total of ships making up the
postwar tonnage to be completed for
the I. M. M. Company six are for the
White Star Line. All these are COM
bination freight and passenger car
riers, four being of more than 10000
tons. These include the Doric and
the Pittsburg, not yet completed, the
erpool service and the latter for the
elphiaLiverpool service under
the White Star house flag. 1t has been
expected that these ships. would be
ready by the summer of this year, but
the date of their appearance has not
been fixed, and it is possible that they
may not appear in service until the
spring of 1922. The Regina, fourth OF
the larger White Star ships, has seen
service in partly completed condi-
ton and will be refitted for the Cana
dian passenger and freight business.
One other important l. M. M. vessel
due for completion is the Belgenland
for the Red Star Lines New York Ant
werp service. This vessel was launched
during the war without her passenger
accommodations as planned and was
rushed into service as a freighter and
trooper in the White Star fleet under
he - d.
known as the largest freighter coming
into. an American port. According to
present plans the Belgic is due to go
back to her builders yard at Belfast
for completion as the Belgenland. She
will be given the finest possible pas
senger quarters, and when completed
will be the largest ship to enter the
port of Antwerp.
In addition to the vessels here
enumerated, the international Mercan.
tile Marine fleets will be increased this
spring by the ex-German passenger
liner Berlin, purchased from the British
government and renamed Arabic This
ship, one of the best turned over by
the Germans to Great Britain, is OF
17,342 gross tons. She is now being
reconditioned at Southampton and is
expected to enter the New York-M
terranean service of the White Star
Line this spring, together with the
present ships on the run-the Canopic
and Cretic.
To Add 100000 Tons
The following table gives the list of
the International Mercantile Marine
Company's postwar tonnage under
construction or IN process of compile
ton:
Nhite star Line: Tons gross.
Regina ~ . 4