Rio Diamante - Trial

A “BLISTER” SHIP. TRIAL TRIP OF REMARKABLE VESSEL

Northern Daily Mail. 7/5/28
The s.s. Rio Diamante, built by Messrs. William. Gray and Co., Ltd., to the order of the Thompson Steam Shipping Co., Ltd., London, successfully ran her official sea trial on Saturday. She is a remarkable vessel in many respects, and has aroused the curiosity of all who have seen her during the time she has been in dock fitting out.
    
The hull is what is known as the “monitor” type, the model of which is designed to take considerably less power to drive through the water than the ordinary straight sided ship. The combination of the “monitor” sides and the high pressure quadruple expansion machinery with which she is fitted, is expected to give the most economical results, and may open up a new era in the cost of sea transport.
    
The results obtained on the trial were very satisfactory, and augurs well for the results obtained from the loaded vessel. A speed of 13 knots was obtained, and the absence of vibration at all speeds up to the maximum was most noticeable, the ship and machinery running with the greatest smoothness.

                                              CONSTRUCTION
The vessel is built to the highest class in Lloyd’s  Register of Shipping, and is of the following dimensions: Length (B. P.) 400ft., breadth (moulded) 53ft., depth moulded to upper deck 28ft. 1 ½  in., with open shelter deck having a tonnage opening in the after end.
    
The vessel is constructed to the design of the Monitor Shipping Corporation, Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne, with 17in. web framing, double bottom on cellular system, and fore and after peak tanks. She has six watertight bulkheads, together with steel centre line bulkheads in the holds and wood shifting boards for the special carriage of grain cargoes.
    
For the quick handling of cargo, 11 powerful steam winches are to be provided to work 10 derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted. The topmasts are to be telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Canal Bridges. The equipment includes  refrigerating plant, wireless installation and electric light.

                                                  The Machinery.
The machinery supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, consists of reciprocating engines of the balanced quadruple expansion, inverted, direct-acting, surface condensing type.
    
There are three boilers, each working at the pressure of 260lbs. Per square inch and fitted with forced draught. The steam will be superheated to about 560 deg. Fahr. Special air heaters are fitted, by means of which the air supply to the furnaces is pre-heated to about 350 deg. Fahr.
    
A number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type also made by the Central Marine Engineering Works, are fitted, including centrifugal pump, direct contact heater, High pressure live steam surface feed heater, gravitation feed filter,  pair of independent feed pumps, drain and scum tank, harbour feed pump, general service and ballast pumps,  and evaporator.
    
The owners were represented on the trial by Mr. G. Humphreys, under whose supervision the ship and machinery have been built, others present including Mr. A. Thompson, Dr. Telfer, and Mr. J. Tutin, M.Sc.

Northern Echo 7/5/28
The monitor ship Rio Diamante, which has been constructed by William Gray and Co., of West Hartlepool, successfully completed her official sea trials on Saturday. The vessel is one of comparatively few monitor ships constructed in this country, their peculiarity being a series of corrugations which run from end to end of the ship. Their purpose is to minimise rolling, provide more cargo space, and obtain the maximum thrust from the screw. In the trials of the Rio Diamante the absence of roll was most noticeable, and the vibrations from the engines were also distinctly minimised. 
    
Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., have launched from their Central Shipyard, West Hartlepool, the s.s. Carperby, another fine addition to the Ropner Shipping Co., Ltd., of West Hartlepool. She is 418ftft. in length, 53ft 6in. broad, and 29ft. 6in. in depth. Triple expansion engines will be supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders. 
The christening ceremony was performed by Miss Clare A. MacGregor, daughter of Dr A. V. MacGregor, of West Hartlepool.

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