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To Inaugurate Freight, Mail and Passenger Service ITH the sailing of its flag- W x the City or BALTIMORE on July 2 from Baltimore, the Baltimore Mail Steamship Co. will in- augurate a fast freight, mail and pas- senger service between Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Havre and Hamburg. The Ciry or BALTIMORE underwent her trial tests on May 28 and successfully met the requirements laid down for her. During these tests, which were made between Ambrose light and Fire Island light off Sandy Hook, the ves- sel averaged 17.77 knots. On one of the runs, which were made under varying wind and tide conditions, the ship ex- ceeded 18 knots. The mail contract calls for a speed of 16 knots. ‘The fleet of the Baltimore Mail Steamship Co. consists of five vessels, the Ciry or BALTIMoRE, City or Nor- FOLK, Ciry of Newport NeEws, City or Havre and Crry or HamBure. These five steel cargo steamers were pur- chased from the shipping board for $150,000 cash and were reconstructed at the yard of the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. at Kearny, N. J. with the aid of a construction loan of $6,540,- 000 awarded by the shipping board July 11, 1930. The vessels are to be operated under the terms of an ocean mail contract. Each of the five vessels will be 506 feet long, 56 feet beam and 24 feet draft. Displacement will be approxi- mately 15,000 tons. The vessels were designed by Gibbs & Cox, New York city. Work on the four sisterships of the City oF BALTIMORE is going ahead according to schedule. The Curry or NorFo.k, Ciry oF HAMBURG and CiTy oF HAVRE are all out of drydock. The Crry oF Norrotk will be delivered about July 15 and will make her first voy- i = ees fol, Lenleahel OR; OOM Bee airs City of Baltimore, flagship of the Baltimore Mail line —One of fiv 18 : on 3 ES ee oe a guerre age from Baltimore Aug. 13. The other vessels are scheduled to be delivered at monthy intervals. Work of reconstruction on these ves- sels involves modification of hull lines and the installation of more powerful engines to increase their speed. The equipment of the new liners is of the most modern type. The engines are De- Laval cross compound oil burning tur- bines developing 9500 horsepower. They will be fitted with double reduction gears and steam will be furnished by four high pressure watertube boilers. Ten watertight bulkheads extend to the weather deck and divide each ship into eleven compartments, insuring maxi- mum safety in event of flooding. Fire screen bulkheads are also installed with the Rich system of fire detection and automatic fire alarms in the pas- senger quarters. Modern navigating instruments to be installed in the ves- sels include the radio direction finder, the fathometer and the automatic gyro steering compass. Staterooms are provided on the upper decks amidships for the accommoda- tion of 81 passengers. The staterooms are attractively furnished. All of them are outside rooms and over half are fitted with private bath or shower. During the trial runs of the Crry or BALTIMORE the engines performed satis- factorily and despite her light draft it was said that the vessel was almost en- tirely devoid of vibration. Maneuvering the ship lasted for ten hours and in- cluded sharp turning angles, and for- ward and reverse running. Navigating instruments were also checked. After completing the trial runs the Crry or BALTIMORE returned to drydock for final inspection and interior equip- ment. The vessel was delivered to the owners about the middle of June, Accommodations are provided on the ships for all types of cargo, such as lengthy steel, heavy machinery, bulk grains, ores and so forth. For perish- able cargoes there are three large re. frigerated compartments on each ship. The refrigerating unit is so construct- ed that separate temperatures can be maintained in each compartment, thus permitting accommodation of varied types of perishable cargo which may re- quire different degrees of refrigeration. There is a reserve refrigerating unit on each vessel for use in emergency. The Baltimore terminal of the line has direct rail connection with the large trunk line railroads entering the city. A new steel and _ concrete, double decked pier and warehouse has been built with ample provision for storage. The pier is 902 feet long and 90 feet wide. Modern cargo handling facilities permit speedy handling of cargo. The Hamburg terminal is well situat- ed for the interchange of freight and is equipped with modern cargo handl- ing facilities. The other terminals of the line, Hampton Roads and Havre, are well equipped for transfer of freight from rail to ship. By Oct. 15 the line will have estab- lished its regular sailing schedule with a ship leaving eastbound and west- bound every week. The crossing from Baltimore to Havre will be made in nine days and to Hamburg in a little over ten days. Officers of the Baltimore Mail Steamship Co. include: Donald Sym- ington, president, John M. Franklin, executive vice president; Basil Harris, T. Archer Morgan, Kermit Roosevelt, and Henry E. Treide, vice presidents; William <A. Grimes, Iredell W. Iglehart, treasurer. The directors of the Todd Shipyards Corporation at their monthly meeting held in May declared the regular quarterly dividend of $1 per share, payable on June 20, to stockholders of record at close of business June 5. AOE ON tt asctssinaten MARINE REvIEw—July, 1931 e sisterships rebuilding at Kearny, N. J. : | secretary and ‘> dos &