New-York tribune., 1922-12-11

The placing In Great Britain Of an
order for n 22,00O-ton eighteen-knot
passenger motor-liner has created In
tense interest in shipbuilding circles as
marking perhaps n new era in marine
propulsion. IL was generally believed,
and some still believe, that the time
had not yet come for the use Of Diesel
engines on fast passenger vessels,
though they have been tried success
fully on numerous freighters. Motor
ship" IN It's December issue comments
as follows on the new departure:
"a revolution In engineering thought
and an almost bewildering disturbance
OF shipping opinion have arisen over the
construction Of the eighteen-knot 600
foot two-cycle Diesel-driven ocean pas
senger liner for the Union Steamship
Company. We who cit in the center OF
the wheel Of current development knew
that such a remarkable advance was
nearer 70 realization than generally
appreciated. On the other hand, ship
owners whose experiences with the op-
Grafton Of motorships are not per
sonal, but largely hearsay, genuinely
believe such vessel Is impractical ex-
cept on paper and not possible as a
commercial proposition within the next
ten years. Their opinion has been sup
ported by a considerable weight Of en-
gineering opinion, and there are engi-
neers whom this bold order has dis
concerted and rudely shocked.
"The placing OK this revolutionary
order will be the greatest setback ever
given 70 the gcared-turbine and the
steam boiler By the internal -eombus-
tion engine. II will mean that from
now onward every ship owner viii DC
forced to most seriously consider oil
engine power for vessels Of all but the
very largest size, as success Of the new
development Is assured. Coming into
being Of such big motorships means
economies that are astounding, ana
enormous compared with the gains
effected By the commonplace (siel
Diesel-propelled freighter. Too much
stress cannot be placed upon this fae-
tor, because Il will be practically I'M
possible for steafn-driven liners 70
compete against them.
"The Union Steamship Lines motor
ship Is having four six-cylinder motors
together developing from l2,gOV 70
1900 shaft horsepower, ana VIII
maintain the nrst figure in regular
service, which Is the equival lent OF
about 1880 steam i.h.p. for reciproeat-
ing engines and about 1880 shaft mp
for geared or electric turbo drives.
Triple-serews and three engines were
also considered for the Job. The aux
iliaries OF the motorship viii take
another 1.6O0 shaft h.p. The cylinder
bore and stroke Of the main engines
are 81 inches and 80 inches respec-
lively, and the speed Is i35 rpm.
"Somekimes we are accused OF paint
ing the motorship in too rosy eolorsi
but IN aetuality we strive for accuracy
and give lgures as we find them IN
rerviee. While no performances data are
Available. the daily consumption or 1uel
iii al sea Of this new craft will be only
g7n tons for rs knots speed and under
8 tons per day In port. As she "iil op,,
crate OF, the Pacific Ocean, and a. fpel
oil on the Pacific Coast is now ~ per
ton. her fuel bill vii: have the extraor-
dinarily low figure Of sfo2 and sf2 per
day respectively, unless oil prices IN
ereass. which, Of course, will ahect
steamships 70 a much greater extent,
But this is not her only economy. Her
builders say that she viii carry IL per
cent more passengers and IS per cent
more cargo than . steamer Of the SAM.
dimenslons and speed. Her speed VIII
be more eOnsistent,beeauss Of absenes