Note 396 — Chapter XII

Her power and capacity.

The Hankow and three other steamers of a similar class were built for Messrs. Swire by Messrs. A. and J. Inglis of Glasgow, expressly for the trade of the Yang-tse; their dimensions are as follows:—

Pekin and Shanghai. Ichang. Hankow.

Gross tonnage 3076 1781 3168

Length on load-water line 292 feet. 242 feet. 308 feet

Breadth, moulded 42 ” 36 ” 42 ”

Depth, moulded 15 ” 12 ft. 6 in. 16 ”

Load draught 10 ” 9 feet. 11 ”

Dead weight capacity 664 tons 460 tons 840 tons

Measurement capacity in tons of 40 feet 3668 1972 3800

Passenger accommodation, Europeans 14 10 14

Passenger accommodation, Chinese, 1st 16 6 18

Passenger accommodation, Chinese, 2nd 164 106 170

Speed on trial 13 knots 12 knots 12¾ knots

Diameter of cylinder 68 inches 62 inches 72 inches

Stroke 12 feet. 10 feet. 14 feet

Indicated horse-power 1450 1200 1840

Pressure of steam 27 lbs. 33 lbs. 35 lbs.

Consumption of fuel at full power (per hour) 33 cwt. 27 cwt. 40 cwt.

The Pekin was finished in May 1873; the Shanghai in July 1873; the Ichang, October 1873; and the Hankow in April 1874.

The hulls of these vessels are of iron to the main-deck, and of the most substantial construction, every precaution being taken to give them sufficient strength to make the voyage to China in safety, as well as to withstand the severe strains they are occasionally subjected to in the river, by being left aground with a full cargo. The Hankow cost, delivered at Shanghai, close upon 70,000l.

In forwarding the particulars of these vessels, Messrs. A. and J. Inglis remark: “Though the hulls are constructed entirely of iron, the entire structure above the main-deck is of wood, as light as possible consistent with the requisite strength, so as to lessen the top weight, as we were informed that the steamers of the Yang-tse were peculiarly liable to get aground, owing to the frequent shifting of the channel in some parts of the river. The cargo spaces,” they add, “are in the lower holds, and also between the main and saloon decks. The accommodation for passengers and officers, the galleys, pantries, bath rooms, store rooms, and other conveniences are all above the saloon deck.

“The main saloon is placed forward between the captain’s rooms and the machinery space; above the captain’s rooms are the pilot-house and quarter-masters’ cabins.

“The engines are after the American style, with walking beam, but are rather more solidly constructed than is usual in America. The gallows frame, which supports the main centre of beam, instead of being made of wood as in the States, is of malleable iron; box framing is secured to massive box keelsons on the floors of the ship. This style of framing, never before adopted in beam engines, has given great satisfaction in the six steamers to which we have fitted it.

“The Ichang and Hankow had common radial wheels, but in the Pekin and Shanghai feathering wheels were adopted, with marked advantage in point of speed. We have no doubt that the Hankow would have attained 15 knots speed, had she been fitted with feathering wheels.

“Besides these four vessels we built a similar vessel, the Hupeh, for Messrs. Russell and Company, Shanghai, in 1868, and the Shing-King, a sea-going steamer with beam engine, in 1873. Messrs. Russell and Company had previously built all their steamers in America or China, but, becoming alive to the advantages of iron over wooden hulls, had the above vessels and three screws built by us for their trade on the Yang-tse and Gulf of Pechili.”