Harden

LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL

(Northern) Daily Mail April 18/12

Yesterday, Messrs. William Gray and Company, Limited, launched the steel screw steamer Harden, which they have built for Messrs. Harrison, Tidwell, and company, London.

She will take the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions vis.: Length over all, 255ft. 6in.; breadth, 36ft. 3in., and depth, 19ft. 10 ½ in. ;and is specially constructed for the London coal trade.

She is a handsomely modelled vessel of the single-deck type, with raised quarter deck, bridge and topgallant forecastle. Tasteful cabin accommodation will be fitted up in the bridge for captain, officers, and engineers, and the crew in the forecastle.

The hull is built with deep bulb-angle frames, clear holds cellular double bottom and large fore and after peak ballast, tanks. She has four extra large hatchways for loading and self trimming all parts of the holds. There are four powerful steam winches placed on raised platforms with the usual derricks for rapidly discharging coal, the masts being extra strong to carry all the required gear. Special arrangements are also provided for discharging by shore grabs. Steam steering gear is fitted amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, stockless anchors, telescopic masts with fore and aft rig, and a first class outfit for the vessel’s special trade.

The machinery is made by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, being of the triple-expansion type with cylinders 19in., 30 ½ in., and 51in.  diameter, with a 36in. piston stroke, and is fitted with two  large steel multitubular boilers to work at a pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The vessel and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. W. Crandell, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Harden was gracefully performed by Mrs. John Harrison of London.    

TRIAL TRIP OF THE s.s. HARDEN

 (Northern) Daily Mail, May 22/12

Yesterday the steel screw steamer Harden, built by Messrs. Wm Gray and Co, Ltd., for Messrs. Harrison, Tidswell, and Company, London, was taken to sea for her trial trip.

She has been built to the highest class in Lloyd’s and is of the following dimensions, viz.: Length over all, 255ft. 6in.; beam, 36ft. 6in.; and depth moulded, 36ft. 3 in. ; and is specially constructed for the London coal trade.

She is a handsomely modelled vessel of the single-deck type, with raised quarter deck, bridge and topgallant forecastle. Tasteful cabin accommodation will be fitted up in the bridge for captain, officers, and engineers, and the crew in the forecastle.  

The machinery has been made at the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, and is of the triple-expansion type having cylinders 19in., 30 ½ in., and 51in. diameter, with a piston  stroke 36in., and the steam is generated in two large multitubular steel boilers, adapted to work at 180 lbs per square inch. The piston rods and slide rods are fitted with United States metallic packing, and “C.M.E.W.” evaporator, feed and ballast pumps, etc., have been supplied.

After the usual manoeuvring for the testing of compasses, etc., a run along the coast was made to the Tyne and back, during which the performance of both ship and machinery was highly satisfactory, and a speed of 10 ½ knots, registered, under unfavourable weather conditions. Mr. W. Crandell, who has superintended the building of the vessel and machinery, represented the owners.

The vessel afterwards proceeded to London with her cargo of coal.