In 1955 Hungary issued an attractive stamp showing one of a pair of 1100-ton cargo vessels built at the Gheorghiu-Dej shipyard at Budapest. Three of this class of vessel were built under the Hungarian flag. They are the Beke ("Peace"), Balaton (Lake Platten) and Duna (Danube). The first of the trio to be completed, the Beke, is the subject of the stamp illustration. Owners are the Mahart Company (Magyar Hajozasi Reszvenytarsasag— Hungarian Shipping Co. Ltd.). Lloyd's Register quotes the owner's name as the Hungarian Danube-Sea Navigation Co. Ltd.
Destined for cargo carrying in northern waters the ships are provided with reinforced hulls so that they can operate among broken ice. They are built according to the Class E requirements of the Germanischer Lloyd. It was because of the low bridges spanning the Danube that all three vessels were taken down to the Black Sea for completion. Leading particulars of the ships are: Length between perpendiculars 65 metres; moulded breadth 10 metres; moulded depth 5.3 metres ; draft loaded 3.8 metres. Speed is 9.5 knots. The hull of the vessel is all-welded from Siemens-Martin steel and has a transverse framing system. Excepting water and fuel storage compartments all structural steel parts are specially treated with an anticorrosive composition. Those parts of the hull likely to come into contact with ice have been backed by concrete.
The Beke is fitted with electrical steering gear operating in conjunction with a Ward-Leonard control system. In cases of emergency it is possible to switch over to manual operation at a moment's notice. Although the anchor is lifted by an electric windlass this may also be done by hand. There are two separate whelps with individual band brakes. The design of the windlass permits the simultaneous hoisting of both anchors from a depth of 80 metres with a cable speed of about 11 metres per minute.
Two 3-ton derricks are provided at each hatchway while the second and third holds are equipped with a 10-ton cargo boom. Derricks are provided with individual electric winches. There are two ship's lifeboats each capable of holding 29 people (the crew normally consists of 27), and a service boat. Main propulsion is by two 8-cylinder, 4-stroke, directly reversible Ganz-J–drassik oil engines which are primarily fresh water cooled. Provisions have been made however to facilitate salt water cooling as well. Auxiliary machinery is made up of three diesel generating sets with a total output of 115 Kw.
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