Ken,
The clue is in the name - _steam coal_ is free burning (as Richard says
= longer flames). The biggest problem was that such coal often caught
fire (through spontaneous combustion) in the ship's coal hoppers - e.g.
the Titanic had a bad fire in one of its bunkers. As fire fighters in
Japan are finding, putting water on such a fire often adds to the
problem by splitting the resulting steam or (with coal) making water gas.
Aberthaw Power Station, near Barry in South Wales, was designed to burn
semi-anthracitic, low-volatile coal. A high percentage of this coal is
locally sourced coal, mined in Wales and is transported to the power
station by rail.
You mention 1912 - that was the year the admiralty began building Queen
Elizabeth class battleships - which were the first oil-fired ships in
the fleet.
As Ian says - they established coaling ports abroad. Brunel's SS Great
Britain (now at Bristol) ended up being used as a floating coal bunker
in the Falklands.
Mike
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