Trial Trip of the Ling Kong: An Excellent Demonstration The above vessel which has been built by the New Engineering and Shipbuilding Works, Ld. for the Shanghai Licensed Pilots' Association Ld. left the Yangtszepoo Dock xt 8.20 a.m. on Tuesday of last week for the purpose of running her official trials between Shanghai and the Bell Buoy and on the Customs Measured mile near the Kiutoan Beacon, the builder's trial having taken place on January 18.
The only people present were those directly interested in the vessel, namely, the representatives of the Pilots' Association, their Superintendent Engineer, the Surveyor to Lloyds Register, and the officials of the New Engineer Shipbuilding Works, assisted by various members of staff.
After getting clear of the shipping the vessel commenced running her endurance trial of six hours at a speed of 114 knots per hour, when she reached the measured mile her speed and revolutions were checked by two double runs. She was then steered away towards the Bell Buoy and was turned around to bring her back to the "Mile" just before the expiry of the stipulated period of trial.
Throughout the trial the' vessel steamed in a most satisfactory man. ner easily keeping up the required speed of 11} knots with dynamo and refrigerating engine running con. tinuously, main engines worked exceedingly well there being scarcely and vibration in the vessel, She was then run several times between the mile posts, doing progressive and speed trials which turned out most satisfactorily, her high mean speed being 12.75 knots per hour under practically loaded conditions.
A special feature of the vessel is arrangement of bunkers, fresh water and ballast tanks.
The hull is divided longitudinally into five watertight bulkheads, forming forepeak, forehold, bunker, engine and boiler space, after hold and after peak. The hold spaces are further sub-divided into 13 watertight compartments constructed to form deep tanks, eight of which will be used for carrying fresh water and the remainder as ballast tanks for trimming the vessel to a constant draft as the coal and fresh water is used up on service.
On the return journey the vessel was put through various tests, the helm being put over, she turned in* a reverse direction in about a radius of one ship's length, in one minute and 40 seconds, the go-astern properties of the vessel were tried, the anchors let go and have up again, demonstrating the fact that the vessel has a very efficient' and silent windlass, which is a "Napier" driven by worm gear.
Excellent results were obtained with the refrigerating plant, which has been supplied by Messrs, J. E. Hall of Dartford, England, also
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.