M.V. Malaita On Sydney-Solomons-Rabaul Run
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
THE advent of the new B.P. motor vessel Malaita has been the one bright spot experienced by Solomons Is lands residents in recent months. The Malaita represents a new development of comfortable tropical travel.
The Malaita was built by Barclay Curie & Co., at their Clydeholm Yard, Whitewich, Glasgow, for Bbrns, Philp & Co. Ltd., and was launched there on Aug ust 21, 1933. Her length is 325 ft., breadth moulded 47 ft.; depth, moulded, 23 ft. 6 ins.; load draught, 20 ft. 9 ins.; dead weight 3400 tons; tonnage (approx.), 3500 gross, 2160 nett; service speed, 12 knots.
Accommodation for passengers com prises 101 saloon, and 8 steerage berths,
and it has been designed specially for the tropics. The whole of the accommodation is ventilated on the Termotank system, providing fresh air to all parts.
There are five hatches, served by 10 electric winches, and 15 derricks, and there is one 20-ton heavy-lift derrick.
The total cargo capacity exclusive of stores is 160,000 cub. feet.
The engine is thus described: 8-cylin der, 2-stroke, trunk piston, single-acting type, Burmeister & Wain, built by J. G.
Kincaid, Glasgow, under license from Harland and Wolff. Bore, 500 mm; stroke 900 mm.; B.H.P. 1740, at 110 revs, per minute, and I.H.P., about 200.
This graceful white vessel is now away in the north, making her initial run in the newly-arranged Sydney-Solomons- Bougainville-Rabaul service.