File:The Motor Ship Fullagar (The Engineer, 16 July 1920, page 69).jpg

English: THE welded motor ship Fullagar, built by Cammel Laird and Co., Limited, Birkenhead, the first vessel to be fitted with the Camellaird-Fullagar type of marine oil engine, which was described in our issues of January 30th and February 6th, has just carried out very sueeessful sea trials. We reproduce above a photograph of the ship under way.

The vessel herself is unique, in that not a single rivet has been used in her construction, the hull being welded throughout, as are also the fuel, lubricating, and water tanks. The ship is 150ft, in length. She is intended for the coasting trade, and is fitted with a Cammellaird-Fullagar oil engine of 500 brake horse-power, which works on the Diesel cycle and rum. at a speed of 100-120 revolutions per minute. The engine has four cylinders 14in. in dia-meter, while each of the opposed pistons has a stroke of 20in. Air at a pressure of 1000 lb. per square inch is used for injecting the fuel into the cylinders and is supplied by a three-stage air compressor driven from the forward sad of the crank shaft. The circulating pumps are also driven off that and of the shaft. thus rendering the engine a self-contained propelling unit. The hull and machinery have been built under the supervisions of G. S. Doodwin and Co., consulting engineers, of Liverpool, and the vessel has been purchased by Thos. and Jno. Brooldebank. Limited.

The trials of the vessel were carried out in the river Mersey on Tuesday. June 29th, when the ease and quickness with which the engine could be manoluvred impressed all present. Reversal from full speed ahead to full speed astern only required about ten seconds, the engine easily starting action with full ahead way on the ship. At about 11.40 p.m. on the same day the Fullagar set off on her maiden trip to the Clyde. After getting clear of land extremely rough weather was encountered, and as this became worse it was found necessary to put into Ramsey until the storm abated. During this part of the voyage the engine ran steadily throughout, no racing being experienced, and there was only a slight variation in the revolutions. The hull was well tested, the force of the waves subjecting it to severe shocks and strains, which it withstood perfectly. The vessel left Ramsey at 4.20 a.m. on July 1st and reached Greenock about 6 p.m. The engine continued to run steadily at a speed of 106 revolutions per minute, the ship doing about 9.75 knots against wind and tide. On July 2nd some trial runs on the mile and manoeuvring tests were carried out, and the Fullagar left the Clyde at 11.30 p.m. on the same evening, arriving in the Mersey at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 3rd. The engine ran satisfactorily and without any sign of trouble from start to finish at an average speed of 107 revolutions per minute, the vessel averaging about 10 knots. During this run the fuel consumption worked out at 2.1 tons per day of twenty-four hours. Some of the readings taken in the engine-room were as follows : - Scavenge air pressure, 1¼ lb, per square inch ; circulating water pressure. 6.5 lb. per square inch ; lubricating oil pressure. 12 lb. per square inch ; blast air pressure, 1000 lb. per square inch ; scavenge temperature, 50 deg. Fah.: circulating discharge temperature, 100 deg. Fah.; engine.room temperature, 62 deg. Fah.