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VOL. XXXIV. CLEVELAN D. AUGUST 30. 1906. No. 9. THE DOVER-OSTEND TURBINE STEAMSHIP PRINCESSE ELISABETH. A new steamship built by the Cock- erill Co. was started running on Sept. II, 1905, by the Belgian government; its main feature is that the power is obtained by high-speed turbines. The other mailboats in use on the same ser- vice, like most light draught ships built of recent years, are propelled by paddles driven by reciprocating en- gines. This system, quite apart, from the great weight of the paddle wheels, has the disadvantage of possessing a large number of parts which are out- side the hull, and these are consequent- ly exposed to damage if they strike any wreckage or even if the sea is rough. This inconvenience is reduced to a minimum in the case of turbine boats, where the only part in contact with the water is the screw fixed at the end of the propeller shaft and protected by the sternpost. By using very high- speed turbines it is also possible to reduce the weight and bulk of the ma- chinery, i. e., to increase the carrying capacity and the speed of the boat. In the case of paddle steamers, the large amount of immersed surface pro- duces a very great resistance when the engine is reversed, so that the ship stops very quickly. This is a very im- portant point, especially in the channel during fogs or in coming across an- other vessel. The earlier turbine boats were fitted with rather weak turbines for driving the ship backwazds, and this was by no means safe in the case we are considering. The Princesse Elisabeth has sufficiently powerful tur- bines to drive the ship backwards at a speed of 16 knots. It follows that even when doing 20 knots, this boat can be stopped within two-and-a-half times her own length. The contract specified a speed of at least 221%4 knots when going ahead, and 13 knots when going astern. As the trial runs given below show, these con- ditions were much mo'e than satisfied, for the new steamship attained an av- erage speed of 24 knots, and so beat the world's record for a passenger boat. The other boats belonging to the Belgian government made their trial runs in, Scotland, on. the estuary of the Clyde, between Clock Point and the the same speed while turning beyond the lights. The results obtained are shown in the following. tables. We may remark that Greenwich time is used in Bel- gium but that twenty-four hour time is in vogue. The trials took place on August 9, 1905, at a time when the tide had the least effect. The sea was A.--RUNNING AHEAD. Hu mn a ee u se |. Vacuum 12-2 Times of Passing : Dp oo|in condensers.|g'5 £8 Time : 2aoslin millimeters) .o2 a Scena Speed in Knots g 'So-=| (in inches) | oq g = and Means ASE F b ne® on Run aod § Bee Clock Point Cumbrae 8 Eo Ol Dort eae ga89 aS Bn 9 A At 13h. 24m. 54s. |13h. 59m. 19s. | 84m. 258. | 23.824 507.2 | 67.6 67.7 44 ' 24 03 (2.662)| (2.665) | (1.732) 14h. 11m. 508. |14h.45m. 39s | 33m. 49s. | 24.217 | 23.993 4sg | (67.5 | 68 46 23.950 bs - 2658) | (2.677) | (1.811) 14h. 56m.27%s.|15h. 31 m.8s. | 34m 40%s. | 23.653 Log 995 492 | 67.5 68 46 : 23 920 (2.658) | (2.677) | (1.811) 1h 41m,6s. |16h.15m. 33m. 54s. | 24.187 401 68 68.5 48 (2.677) | (2.697) | (1.890) Cumbrae lighthouses. In order to get accurate and undeniable bases for com- parison between the turbine boats and the earlier paddle boats, the govern- ment specified that the turbine boat trials should be run under the same conditions. ' ' The distance between the two lights is 13.666 knots. It is not, therefore, a calm, and there was a light breeze from , W.. S.-W. The official commission stated that on several occasions when running ahead, the boat had to go. out of its course to avoid other vessels. The commission therefore stated that it was certain the real mean speed ex- ceeded 24 knots. The Princesse Elisa- B.--RUNNING ASTERN, q . 4 S Veouus in os <8 i i red ard condensers, a, Tipe ot eae) ee Time ; g aa i: in millimeters om z x e mule : Speed in Knots| 53 0£8]| (ininches) | 323% occupied ABB O'S Racoge on Rall and Means q ce cas gee geg°s Star- mods First Beacon | Second Beacon se Port | poard "a 5 : 3} a 67 67 48 16h. 50m. 308. | 16h. 54m.9%s.| 3m. 39%s. | 16.400 oe (oasy | eomey | ase 67 EOF 48 17h. 4 m 41s. 17h.8m 26%s.| 3m. 45%s8. 15.965 417 5 (2.638) | (2.638) | (1 890) case of single measured mile run_ beth is thus at present the fastest pas- which, with such a fast vessel would only take a-few minutes and scarcely be of any value. Moreover, the boat was not to slacken speed after passing the two lights, but was to keep on at senger boat afloat. As for running 'astern, it was thought enough to run the measured mile only, and, indeed. the minimum specified speed, 13 knots, was so greatly exceeded that it was