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Arabistan - a general history

(Northern) Daily Mail 19/03/12:
LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL. 
To-day, Messrs. Wm Gray and Co, Ltd, launched the large steel screw steamer Arabistan, which they have built to the order of Messrs. Frank C. Strick and Co., Limited, of Swansea and London.
The vessel will take the highest class Lloyd’s Register and is of the following dimensions vis.: Length over all, 412ft. 6in.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., and depth, 29ft. 7 ½ in.  
She is a handsomely modelled vessel of the double-deck type, with poop, long bridge and topgallant forecastle, having very tasteful cabin accommodation in houses on the bridge deck for passengers, captain and officers, and is fitted throughout with electric lighting. 
 
The vessel has a cellular double bottom and after peak tank for water ballast, and in addition there is a deep tank or hold compartment fitted for water ballast abaft the engine room, giving a total capacity for water ballast of about 2,200 tons. The whole of the outfit which includes steam windlass, steam steering gear, two derricks to lift 30 tons each, 12 steam winches, with return exhaust to winch condenser of the Contraflo type, is  of the most approved description.
The machinery has been made by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, being of the triple-expansion type with cylinders 28in., 46in., and 77in.  diameter, with a piston stroke 48in. she is fitted with a Contraflo main condenser, Weir’s feed pump and heater and three large steel multitubular boilers, working by Howden’s system of forced draught at a pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.
 
The vessel and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. Archibald Walker, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Arabistan was gracefully performed by Miss. H. Taylor Smith."

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