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Brookwood - Launch

NEW STEAMER

S.S. BROOKWOOD LAUNCHED AT DOCKYARD>

Northern Daily Mail. 12/4/29

On Thursday, Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., launched from their Dockyard, West Hartlepool, the handsome steel screw steamer Brookwood, which is being built to the order of Messrs. R. A. and W. W. Constantine, Middlesbrough.

The vessel will take the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions: Length overall 421ft. 4in.; breadth, 53ft. 6in.; depth moulded to upper deck, 28ft. 11in.; with long bridge, poop, and forecastle. Constructed on the cellular double bottom principle, with fore and aft peaks, for water ballast, and framing of the deep channel type, she has seven watertight bulkheads, together with a steel centre line bulkhead and wood shifting boards dividing the holds for grain carrying.

                                             EQUIPMENT

Spacious accommodation for the captain and officers is arranged in a steel house amidships. The engineers will be berthed in large steel houses alongside casing, and the crew in the poop, with separate mess rooms.

For the quick handling of cargo, ten powerful steam winches are provided which work ten derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also to be fitted. The topmasts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Canal Bridges.

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

THE ENGINES

Triple-expansion engines having cylinders 24 ½ in., 41in., and 68 inches diameter by 45 in. stroke, and three boilers (two of which will be fitted with forced draught and superheaters) working at a pressure of 200lbs.per square inch, will be supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders.

A number of auxiliaries of the “CMEW” type, will be installed, including auxiliary condenser, centrifugal circulating pump, evaporator, direct contact feed heater, combined drain and scumming tank, gravitation filter, pair of independent feed pumps, and general service pump and ballast pumps.

The ceremony of naming the steamer Brookwood was gracefully performed by Mrs. E. L. Barnard, of Middlesbrough. The owners were represented by Mr. W. S. Smith and Commander Gloag under whose supervision the ship and machinery are being built. The builders were represented by Mr. A. McGlashan, Mr. M. S. Gibb, Mr. J. H. Farmer, and Mr. T. McCarthy (directors), Mr. T. S. Simpson (general manager), and Mr. J. Young (yard manager). Amongst those present at the launch were Mrs. R. A. Constantine, Mr. J. E. Barnard, and Dr. Pickworth (Lloyd’s Register of Shipping).



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