Bradglen - Launch

THE BRADGLEN

Yesterdays Launch at Gray’s.

FOR CARDIFF OWNERS

Northern Daily Mail. 18/12/29

Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., yesterday launched from their Central Shipyard the steel screw
steamer Bradglen, the last of six steamers built to the order of Sir Wm Reardon Smith and Sons Ltd., Cardiff.

The vessel will take the highest class in British Corporation Registry of Shipping and is of the
following dimensions: Length b.p. 400ft.; breadth, 54ft. 3in.; depth moulded to upper deck, 28ft. 0 ½ in. with open shelter deck and forecastle.

The ship is constructed of deep channel framing, with double bottom carried right out to shell, and
has six watertight bulkheads, together with steel centre line bulkhead in the holds and ‘tween decks, with wood shifting boards in way of hatches for special carriage of grain cargoes.

Spacious accommodation for the captain and officers is arranged in steel house amidships, the engineers being berthed in large houses alongside the casing, and the crew forward.

For the quick handling of cargo, 11 powerful steam winches are provided to work 11 derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted.

The topmasts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Ship Canal Bridges.

The vessel will be completed in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer; her equipment including
refrigerating plant, an efficient wireless installation, and electric light throughout.

                                               THE MACHINERY

The propelling machinery will be supplied by the Central Marine Engine Works of the builders, and will
consist of reciprocating engines of the balanced quadruple inverted direct-acting surface condensing type, and three forced draught boilers working at a pressure of 260lbs.per square inch. The boilers will be arranged to burn either coal or oil fuel.

A number of auxiliaries of the “CMEW” type, made by the Central Marine Engine Works of the builders will be fitted, including centrifugal circulating pump, pair of independent feed pumps, overhead direct contact feed heater, live steam surface feed heater, auxiliary condenser, Singlex harbour feed pump, steam scrubber, duplex general service and ballast pumps, pair of oil fuel separators, and oil transfer pump.

A “C.M.E.W.” thermocouple installation will also be fitted, by means of which the temperatures of the gases in the combustion chambers of the boilers, the smokeboxes, the base of the funnel, and other points may be easily and conveniently read at one place in the engine room.

The ship and machinery are being built under the supervision of Mr. W. G. Lilley and Capt. E. A. Tamlyn, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Bragden was performed by Miss E. S. Shilson, of Cardiff, the first lady employee of Sir Wm Reardon Smith and Sons Ltd., and now confidential secretary to Sir Wm Reardon Smith, Bt.

The owners were represented by Messrs. A. J. Popham and W. G. Lilley, directors, Mr. William Reardon Smith, and Capt. Tamlyn.

The builders were represented by Mr. F. C. Pyman Managing director, A. McGlashan, director, Mr.

W. Hird, Yard Manager. Among those present were Miss Ella Wilmer (Cardiff), Mrs Pyman, Mrs Farmer, and Mr. J. Aitken, (British Corporation Registry).



Related items :