The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Two Hog Island Freighters Rebuilt Delnorte and Delsud Sail from New Orleans to East Coast South America —Attractive Passenger Quarters—Speed Increased to Over 13 Knots ITH the first two of its fleet of six attractive combination passenger and cargo liners al- ready on the high seas the Mississippi Shipping Co.’s inauguration of its pas- senger and mail service between New Orleans and the principal ports of the Bast coast of South America, is an accomplished fact. The DELNORTE, first of four erstwhile freighters to be converted into a pas- senger vessel of the newest and most comfortable type, sailed from New Or- leans on Aug. 29 for Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Her sister ship, the DrELsup, second passenger liner from a Gulf port to South America sailed on Sept. 19. Conversion Proves Successful Much significance is attached by Commissioner Roland K. Smith of the shipping board to the entirely suc- cessful manner in which the old freighters ScHoopic and SALVATION Lass have been converted into higher speed passenger vessels, the DELNORTE and Detsup. The conversion of these two ships and of the two which are to follow them as rapidly as possible, is a creditable performance in steam- ship engineering and architecture on the part of the officials of the Missis- sippi Shipping Co. which owns them, and those who planned and carried out the work of rebuilding. Purchase and rebuilding, as well as refitting, the first two of these ships alone cost approximately $1,000,000 according to N. O. Pedrick, who has been general manager of the company since it first organized in 1919. The next two ships, namely the DELVALLE and DELMUNDO, will represent about the same outlay. In the reconditioning of these ves- sels, not only was the entire bridge superstructure rebuilt and equipped in the most distinctive fashion, but the propelling machinery, too, was re- modeled. The increasing of the speed through modification of the existing propelling machinery was accomplished in the face of much technical advice against the plan. While many shipping board vessels have been reconditioned and have had their speed increased, here- tofore it has been held necessary to re- place the existing machinery with the result that the total cost has been in excess of $1,000,000 per ship. Although admittedly an excellent reconditioning job, the conversion work on the Drt- NORTE and DELSUD was done at less than one half this cost. More Pleasing in Appearance In addition to the reconstruction of the superstructure and the remodel- ing of the propelling machinery, new auxiliary machinery was installed and the lines of the ships were so changed that they present an entirely different appearance from what they did as freighters. J. F. Paige, senior member of the firm of Paige & Strachan, consulting marine engineers, New York, and formerly manager of operations for the United States shipping board at New Orleans, prepared the plans and specifications for the modification and installation of the machinery and al- terations to the hull, rudder and pro- peller, resulting in increasing the speed from less than 11 to better than 13 knots. On her sea trials between Mobile and :South pass the DELNORTE averaged 13.77 knots. George G. Sharp, naval architect, New York, designed the deck plans and passenger accomodations for the vessels, including in them the “veran- da plan” which adds a unique note of comfort and luxury. Elizabeth Capers, interior decorator. New Orleans, selected and arranged the beautiful interior furnishings of the ships. Work Done in New Orleans Installation of machinery, stream- lining the stern of the Drxnorrg, in- stalling a contrarudder, and the other work incidental to increasing the ves- sel’s speed was done by Johnson Iron Works Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. All other work incidental to pro- viding passenger accomodations in both vessels, together with the entire reconditioning of the DeLsup was done by Jahncke Dry Docks Ine. | The machinery as originally in- stalled in these vessels is of the Gen- eral Electric Curtis turbine type with double reduction gears, reciprocating circulating engine and twin-beam air pump. The boilers are the Babcock and Wilcox large tube type, fitted for burning oil fuel. Designed shaft horsepower of the above equipment was 2500 and the normal sea speed of the vessels 10.75 knots. In order to gain a sufficient in- crease in power to meet the speed re- quirements of thirteen knots in service important changes were ef- fected in both turbines and gears, the latter being practically rebuilt. The = r: . nme r in 8. 8. Delnorte—Newly Reconditioned Hog Island Type F reighter for the Mississippi Shipping MARINE Review—October, 1931 Co.—Speed at Sea 13 Knots 23