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(Continued from Page 466) by comparative diagrammatic drawings to scale in the chart below. The accompanying Table I lists the total number, total gross tonnage and average gross tonnage per vessel as of June 30, 1924, June 30, 1923 and June 30, 1914, of the merchant ships equipped with diesel power in the eight nations, which at present lead in its applica- tion for marine installations. A study Average Size Britain Average Gr Tofal Number 99 Denmar K Average Gross Tonnage Total Number 59 Sweden Average Gross Tonnage 3829 Tolal Gross Tonnage 79,961 Tolal Number 47 Germany Average Gross lonna Total Number 37 Tofal Gross of the size and type of American sea- going vessels, 500 gross tons and over equipped with diesel engines, shows that this country is far behind the leading maritime nations in medium and large sized freighters and that no attempt so far has been made to ap- ply this type of power to passenger vessels, of any size. In Table II, a detailed analysis of American diesel ships shows the preponderance of small- er vessels and also that a large num- ber are wooden hulls. In view of this situation and realiz- 055 Tonnage 46l2 — Total Gross Tonnage 456900 Total Gross Tonnage 167439 MARINE REVIEW ing the absolute necessity of keeping abreast of the times, authorization by the last congress of the expenditure of a sum not to exceed $25,000,000 for the dieselization of government mer- chant steam vessels and the recent ini- tial, tentative award of contracts for main engines to convert 18 such ves- sels is a step likely to have the great- est importance in building up an effi- cient merchant marine. The further December, 1924 to be contracted for in the near future is comparatively small. Secondly, as the vessels of this type are practically all for domestic commerce, competi- tion against other vessels so equipped is not a factor at present. However, that serious consideration is now given to the use of diesels in vessels of this character, is indicated by the discus- sion of the use of such power in the projected large Matson liner and the of World’s Diesel Ships on June 30, 1924 Scale wii Equals 1000 Gross Tons Total Number 26 4293 Tofol Number 73 Average 6 [taly Average Gross Tonnage 2799 Total Gross Tonnage 78,565 Norway ross Tonnage 2656 Total Gross Tonnage 193903 Unifed Sfales Total Number 82 3513 e Tonnage 22,996 Terai Number 29 proviso in this act allowing loans from the construction loan fund to private owners and operators for the conver- sion of existing steam vessels to diesel drive as well as for the construction of new vessels should be of great aid in promoting a steady increase in the American diesel fleet of larger freight ships and_ tankers. The actual adoption of the diesel en- gine in American passenger vessels still seems remote. In the first place, the number of new vessels of this type recently contracted for or likely Average Gross Ton nage 2274 Tolal Gross Tonnage |86458 Holland Average Gress lonnageZ055 58996 Tolal Gross Tonnage Southern Pacific passenger vessel, the BIENVILLE, though in neither case, was it finally adopted. Plans and specifica- tions have also been prepared for two diesel drive passenger vessels for the Panama Pacific line, between New York and San Francisco. Through licenses from several of the foremost European diesel engine build- ers and through independent engineer- ing research and development work, American shipyards and engine build- ers are now fully able to meet any (Continued on Page 514)