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BARGES FOR SHIPMENT OF COAL AND ORE. We are. indebted to Messrs. Smul- ders, of Werf Lusto, Schiedam, Hol- land, for the accompanying illustra- "TAE MARINE REVIEW et and the foot of the ladder a self- registering weighing machine. This weighs the coal passing through with- out interrupting the delivery, and the quantity delivered can at any moment = BARGES FOR SHIPMENT OF COAL AND ORE tions showing a new type of vessel recently introduced and _ constructed by them for handling shipments of 'coal and ore. It is especially adapted for bunkering purposes, while ore can be dealt with with equal facility. The hull is divided into several compart- ments or pockets, which are funnel shaped, the slope being a little steep- er than the natural angle of repose of the coal, so that no trimming is needed. These pockets can be dis- charged at will into a deep passage or tunnel, vertically sliding doors being fitted for the purpose. An_ endless conveyor runs from the latter end of the vessel and up to the top of the ladder which forms so conspicuous a feature in the bow, it being suitably guided for the purpose. The con- veyor is a combination of the endless chain-tray type and the bucket type of conveyor. The sides of each sec- tion overlap those of the neighboring sections, while each section is also provided with a transverse plate, so that, when working on the slope of the ladder, the coal does practically rest in buckets.. The conveyor chain is driven by a sprocket-wheel in the engine room at the after end of the vessel. It is carried by means of wheels on a double track, both in the tunnel and during its upward and downward journey in the ladder. The vessel not only supplies coal, but automatically registers the quantity at the same time. For this purpose there is placed between the last pock- EARLIER DESIGN, be read off. The capacity of the ma- chine for weighing is two and a half times that of the delivery. This ex- cess is allowed because the charge on the conveyor is not always equally proportioned, and it may be that, the 'load for a time will be greatly in ex- cess of the average. If the weighing machine were not equal to the full ' load at such times of 'excess, the 19 is a receiving hopper, and to. the bot- tom of this is' fitted the discharging trunk or chute, which may be moved to any required direction, and which is telescopic, so that«it may be length- ened or shortened at "will. - ie In the first design the guaranteed duty was 100 tons of coal put into the bunkers per hour, the ladder being at an angle of 45 deg., and the axle of the upper tumblers 59 ft. above water level. On trial, however, 140 tons per hour were easily delivered.. The later vessels are larger and more pow- erful, with a crane fitted on the top of the chute for wo'king same. - The great advantage of the system is that the coal is put into the ship's bunk- ers through the deck opening without being exposed to the air, and there- fore no coal dust is flying about; in fact, bunkering is quite a clean proc- ess. The wide spread of the elevator and the adjustment of the chute en- able the. bunkers "6n both: port and statboard side to be reached without shifting the barge .or the ship. This is a great convenience with ships ly- 'ing against a quay; in fact, cargo can be discharged or shipped, and coal taken into bunkers at the same time, under circumstances where it would be impossible with the ordinary ar- rangements. The reach of the whole apparatus is such that steamers . of large tonnage can be dealt with when light, and it is possible, when two ships are lying alongside each other against the quay, to coal the inside one by reaching over the deck of the other. Moreover, the move- ee BARGES FOR SHIPMENT OF COAL AND ORE--LATEST DESIGN. quantity registered would be less than that actually delivered. The apparatus is guaranteed by the makers to weigh with only 1 per cent deviation from accuracy. At the top of the ladder ment of the coal is sufficient gradual for it mot to be Bbrokeiy wp, and a good deal' of dust is avoided. The - vessel is self propelled, being provid- ed with twin screws.