New Steamer
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
For W. R. Carpenter Line
OIR WALTER CARPENTER announced on May 21 that his firm, Messrs. W. R.
Carpenter and Co. Ltd., had placed in England an order for a new steamer of 9,500 tons to run with the motor vessels Rahaul and Salamaua, in the W.R.C.
Line between Australia, the Pacific Is lands, and Europe. The three vessels will maintain a two-monthly service.
The fact that a steamer has been or dered is interesting. Sir Walter said that his firm’s experience with motor vessels had been unsatisfactory—first because of the extreme difficulty of finding qualified engineers, and second because of certain considerations relating to maximum en gine efficiency. They had returned to steam and he believed that various other shipowners were doing the same.
The motor vessel Salamaua has broken a crank-shaft and has gone into dock in Rotterdam for repairs. Sir Walter said that his company had found it utterly impossible to get this work done in Britain every dockyard was fully en gaged for a long time ahead.