ACHIEVEMENT, The Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company, Limited, have just completed one of the most extensive lengthening alterations and repair contracts. The twin-screw steamer Savoia, owned by the Veloce Company, of Genoa, having been found to be inadequate to cope with the increasing demands upon the cargo and passenger accommodation in connection with the service on which she was employed, it was determined to increase her length by about 70 feet. This contract the above firm were fortunate enough to secure, they having splendid facilities for this class of work in their magnificent graving dock, it being one of the largest and most up-to-date in the country. To the uninitiated the mere fact of increasing the vessel by the length named may not seem to be such an extraordinary feat; but when it is explained that by doing this the vessel had also to be largely strengthened for nearly the whole length of the gunwale decks and bilges, the extent and difficulty of the work will be more fully grasped. The extra strengthening consisted of entirely removing the upper strakes of topside plating, and replacing them with heavier material, besides doubling the stringer plates at the level of the decks. The bilge of the vessel was stiffened by doubling the bilge plating and efficiently strengthening the butts of other plating in that vicinity. A new bilge keel was also fitted to the vessel, which will have the effect of making ita much steadier sea boat. A complete steel lower deck has been added for the accommodation of emigrants.
But the item calling for special attention is at the after end of the vessel. The stern gear, consisting of the propeller and outer tail shaft, were originally supported in two cast-steel brackets, forming part of the stern frame. These brackets were cut away from the the stern post, and two new ones of entirely different design were fitted in their place. From this outer bracket
away the vessel and scarphing the various the ship has then been built out by cutting frames from this point to the point where the shafts originally emerged from the vessel, and covering the whole in with suitable plating. The former stern tubes were then removed, and two new ones of considerable length were fitted through this bossed out, portion of the ship to carry the outer tail end shafts, the inner stern tubes being done away with. The tail shafts, which were found to be considerably corroded, wore renewed with special Whitworth steel. This work, which might almost be put down as a record job, and unique in the annals of modern shipbuilding, has been carried out in @ manner which has gained the approval and admiration of some of the leading experts of the country. Extensive alterations and additions have also been made to the internal construction of the vessel, as will be seen by the following comparative particulars. As the vessel' wes originally: first. class passengers, 78; second-class, 40; third-class 776; cargo 700 tons. AS altered first-class passengers, 130; second-class, 74; third-class, 656; cargo, 2,200 tons.
The first-class passenger accommodation has been entirely gutted and re-arranged. The first-class dining saloon has been largely added to, the music room has been entirely refitted, and la now a very handsome apartment. new first-class smoke room has been built on the promenade deck. The second-class accommodation has been doubled, and the lavatory and pantry services have een increased to meet the demands duo to the large increase of passenger accommodation. One of the difficulties which had to be overcome in connection with the additions to the passenger accommoda~ tion may be more fully realised when it is mentioned that the vessel. was built in Italy, and that the whole of the fittings and carvings had to be specially designed to harmonise with those already in the vessel. The promenade deck, which extends for three-fourths of the vessel's length amidships, and was before of very little practical value owing to the boats being stowed there, has now been. thoroughly adapted for the purpose which its name implies, and this has been accomplished by building a complete boat deck, and removing the boats to this higher level, thus leaving the whole stretch of deck' as a first-class and second-class pro-menado. In consequence of the number of passengers being increased, it was found necessary to augment the refrigerating plant, and this has been effectually carried out on the Linde principle, a new insulated chamber having been fitted on the lower deck aft, with all coils, fans, etc., complete, The vessel i lighted throughout with electricity; electric bells from all state rooms and pantries, ete., have also been arranged and fitted. All this work has been completed by the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company, Limited, thus adding an additional proof of the' inexhaustible resources of this well-known establish ment. The whole of the work has been carried out to design pions supplied by Mr. H. E. Johns, naval architect, of Hamburg, and under the personal supervision of Captain Rivera, the com: pany's superintendent, and all new work has been fitted to meet the highest class of the British Corporation and Registro Italiano, and the firm has every reason to be congratulated on the manner in which the work has been carried through, the vessel having gained in appearance, as well as efficiency, as the result of their Jabours.—Transport."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.