["New Steamers", The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 15 November 1907, page 10]
...
ECHUNGA.
The steamer Echunga, built by Sir Raylton Dixon, and Co., Ltd., of Cleveland Dockyards, Middlesbrough-on-Tees, with cantilever frames, to the order of the Adelaide Steamship Company, Ltd., to fulfil the special requirements of the owners' coal and cattle trade, proceeded to sea for her official trials on October 3. She has the highest class with the British Corporation, and is the largest vessel yet built on this plan. Her leading dimensions are 404ft 4in by 50ft by 26ft 8in moulded depth, carrying 8400 tons deadweight on 23ft 8in draught, with a measurement cargo capacity of about 10,000 tons, exclusive of bunkers. She has five exceptionally large hatchways, 30ft wide by 42ft long, with self-trimming and unobstructed holds. A complete shelter deck, 8 1/2ft high, extends the whole length of the vessel, which is intended for carrying cattle. The vessel is equipped with extraordinary discharging gear, consisting of no less than 25 powerful steam winches, working on 15 derricks, and 8 gaffs on 3 masts and 2 crane posts. Although carrying 8400 tons deadweight, or 10,000 tons measurement, her net register is only 2400 tons, and
she will carry the unusually large quantity of 3200 tons of water ballast, 1400 tons of which are located in the topside tanks. Triple-expansion engines placed aft have been fitted, having cylinders 27 1/2, 44, by 75 inches in diameter, by 48in stroke, supplied with steam by four large single-ended boilers working at 1801b pressure. The trials passed off in a successful manner, the vessel attaining 12 1/2 knots speed. She returned to the Tees, whence she will sail to Cardiff and London to load for Australia, under the command of Captain T. M. Allen. The hull and engine have been constructed under tho superintendence of Captain C. Dingle, and Mr. J. Stewart, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, as consulting engineer.
