    
Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 2956
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 2:57 am: | 
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[MAB Note: Ceramic began her maiden voyage on 24 July 1913. This article appeared some days earlier, after her initial arrival at Liverpool from Belfast.]
The Times, 8 July 1913
THE NEW AUSTRALIAN LINER CERAMIC
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A "DEFENSIVE MERCHANTMAN"
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The new triple-screw White Star Australian liner Ceramic, under the command
of Captain J. Stivey, R.N.R., arrived at Liverpool early yesterday morning
from Belfast, which port she left on Saturday morning, the two intervening
days having been devoted to a cruise in the Irish Channel for the purpose
of speed and other trials and for testing the working of the two 4.7
quick-firing guns with which the ship is fitted under the new scheme of
"defensive merchantmen." A large party was on board, including
representatives from the Admiralty entrusted with carrying out the
arrangements of the new scheme, and there was also a gun's crew from the
Experimental Gunnery School at Whale Island, under the command of Commander
C. M. Forbes, R.N.
The Ceramic will be the largest vessel in the Australian trade. Her
principal dimensions are:-Length, 674ft. 9in.; breadth, 69ft, 5in.: depth,
48ft.; gross tonnage, 18,500. The vessel, which has a graceful appearance,
has neither poop nor forecastle, the upper deck running from stem to stern,
and there is only one funnel. The Ceramic is interesting as marking the
latest development of the one-class liner originated by the White Star Line
with the Medic in 1899, a class which may be described as intermediate
between the third and second. In the Ceramic the entire upper part of the
central and, therefore, the best position of the ship is devoted to
passenger accommodation. The promenade deck is some 400ft. long, and the
lounge, reading-room, gymnasium and smoking-room are well-appointed
apartments. The cabins are on the deck below, the upper deck, and the dining
saloon is on the next deck, the main deck. Seating accommodation in the
saloon is provided for over 500, which is the number it is calculated will
usually be carried, but extra cabins can be provided for 200 additional
passengers. The propelling machinery consists of two sets of reciprocating
engines and one low-pressure turbine worked by the exhaust steam from the
reciprocating engines. The aggregate indicated horse-power is put at 9,000,
and on the trial a speed of over 16 knots was reached, but this result was
obtained under favourable conditions, with picked coal, light draught, and
still water. The contract speed was 14 knots.
A good deal of interest was taken by those on board in the gun trials. Ten
rounds were fired from each gun with entirely satisfactory results as
regards the strength of the mountings.
With regard to the question of safety, great strength has been put into the
hull, and there is, of course, a cellular double bottom extending almost the
entire length of the ship and the 12 transverse bulkheads are carried right
up to the upper deck. In a steel deck-house aft is a powerful Diesel
oil-engine driving an emergency dynamo which is capable of supplying
electric current for lighting to all the principal parts of the ship and for
the wireless installation in the event of the main engines being put out of
working order. The same power can also be used for working pumps. Finally,
there is boat accommodation for every one on board. The vessel is also
equipped with submarine signalling apparatus. The refrigerating chambers are
capable of holding 120,000 carcases of mutton.
Among those on board during the trials were Rear-Admiral H. H. Campbell, who
is in charge of the arrangements for equipping merchantmen with guns,
Rear-Admiral H. W. Savory (Director of Naval Transports), Commander Buckle,
R.N., Mr. Harold Sanderson (president of the White Star Line), Mr. H.
Concanon and Mr. F. Lionel Fletcher (manager of the White Star Line)--the
Ceramic was built under the personal supervision of the latter---Mr. F. W.
May (Director, Atlantic Transport Company), Mr. H. B. Wortley (Alfred Holt
and Co.), Mr. Oscar Thompson (Aberdeen Line), Mr. G. W. Kempster (Director
of Harland and Wolff), Mr. W. W. Bradfield (Marconi Company), and Mr. Peter
McBride (Agent-General for Victoria).
-30-
MAB
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