The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

Shipbuilding on the Mersey.

The shipbuilding operations of the port of Liver
pool are becoming year by year more important and
imposing. The progress of commerce and the for-
tunes of war alike stimulate this branch of industry
on both banks of the Mersey. During 1864 busi-
ness developed so rapidly that, although an unpa-
ralleled number of large vessels have been launched
within the year, there are in the yards at this mo-
ment, partially built, ships 'exceeding in tonnage the
whole amount added to the shipping of the port
during the pressure of the last year of the Crimean
war. Confederate cruisers and Federal blockaders
have added immensely to the causes of this develop-
ment ; while the growth of trade with the East
maintains the demand for vessels suited to Indian
and Chinese seas. Several statements have appeared
recently, purporting to show the position and pro-
spects of the shipbuilding business of the Mersey ;
but all these have been fragmentary, and several
have been incorporated. The following facts and
figures coll ected from the best sources will show the
actual results of the operations of the past year, and
the present state of the building yards of the port.
The greater part of the shipping constructed by
Liverpool builders during the year has been ab-
sorbed by the port ; and Liverpool shipowners hav e
during the same period kept in active operation
some of the principal building yards of other parts
of the kingdom. Twelve leading shipbuilders
have supplied us with data, the result of which
is, that 91 vessels (exclusive of barges) were built on
the banks of the Mersey during 1864. Of these 59
are iron vessels, 16 steel, 8 wood, and 11 composite.
40 are described as steamers, 5 of these as screw-
steamers, and 17 as paddle-steamers ; 36 are de-
scribed as sailing vessels; and 19 not described in
this respect at all. 35 of the steamers have engines
of the total horse-power of 6,565; but the steam
power of the remaining sis not stated. The total
tonnage of the 94 vessels (adding 14 barges) is
76,300 ; 18 vessels and 12 barges are estimated at
the total value of 230,000/. ; and a rough calculation,
founded upon this basis, taken in proportion to the
whole number, gives something like a million and a
half sterling as the probable value of the shipping
built on the Mersey during the year. In addition
to the vessels summarised, a large number of iron
barges, intended for shipment to the East, for river
and harbour service, are included in the return. Of
the 16 steel vessels built, 12 have been constructed
by Messrs. Jones, Quiggin, and Co., and 4 by Mr.
Miller. Of Messrs. Jones and Co.'s 12, 10 are ocean
paddle-steamers, many of them already famous as
blockade-runners—the Georgia Belle, Colonel Lamb,
Wasp, and others amongst the number. The remain-
ing 2 are large sailing ships of from 1,200 to 1,400
tons. When the qualities of steel--its superior strength
and carrying capacity in proportion to weight—are
considered, the special use to which it is so largely
put is better understood. The dimensions of the
Georgia Belle and the-newly-launched Hornet (twin
vessels) are 250 feet length, 28 feet beam, 10 feet 9
inches depth of hold, and the tonnage 972. No less
than 60 vessels, nearly two-thirds of the total num-
ber built in the port, are iron, exclusive of the iron
barges. The composite ships are principally large
vessels intended for service in India and China. The
greatest novelties in construction are those connected
with Mr. Jordan's patents, Mr. Robinson's method,
and the water-ballasting. The vessels built upon
Mr. Henry Jordan's principle differ in accordance
with the dissimilarity between his first and latest
patents. Those built by Messrs. Holderness and
Chilton have longitudinal framework and diagonal
planking. The builders contend that by this method
they secure the greatest possible amount of strength ;
and that, as the bottom framework is wood, all pos-
sibility of injury from cargoes of sugar, copper ore,.
nitrates, and similar substances, is avoided. A
large vessel built by Messrs. Jones and Quiggin—
the Andromeda has a vertical iron framework
and longitudinal wooden planking. The pecu-
liarity of Mr. John Robinson's vessels is,
that they are perfectly flat-bottomed, and con-
structed to carry 500 or 600 tons with a very slight
draught of water. A good deal of curiosity has
been excited by the singular method of launching
adopted by the builder. Mr. Robinson throws his
vessels from a wall, into mid-air, nine or ten feet
above the surface of the water, and allows them to
drop bodily upon the stream—thus testing their
powers of jendurance by a somewhat severe ordeal
at the outset of their career. From the evidence
afforded above, it seems that vessels constructed to
carry water for ballast are growing in favour. The
increasing preference for ships of large size and
capacity, excepting for special services, is sufficiently
evident. Some statistics have been furnished to us
in regard to the amount of labour employed at the
several building yards. Messrs. Laird Brothers
have about 3,200 men engaged upon the works at
their establishment ; Messrs. Jones, Quiggan, and
Co., about 1,700 ; Messrs. Vernon, about 1,200
(part employed at their Liverpool yard, and part at
their Tranmere yard) ; Messrs, Hart and. Sinnott,.
about 500; the Woodside Graving Dock Company,
about 450; Messrs. Bowdler and Co., 400; Messrs.
Evans, 350 ; and Messrs. Holderness and Chilton,
150. Calculating the remainder in proportion to
the tonnage, the total number of men employed at
these 16 building establishments during the past
year has probably been no less than 11,000. The
builders have already in hand, for execution during
the present year, more than 68 vessels—exclusive
of the work (amounting to 9,000 tonnage) at Messrs.
Laird's, and her Majesty's ship Agincourt. As the
aggregate tonnage of the 22 vessels whose burthen
is given is 21,562, it will be seen that this fleet will
in itself be an important addition to the commercial
navy. But orders are in hand, or at least contracts
are mooted for even more extensive works; and the
confidence of the Mersey shipbuilding in the con-
tinuance of the demand for shipping is shown by
their anxiety to extend their own producing powers.
Some of them are moving from the Liverpool to the
Cheshire side of the river, where more room near
the sea at and about Seacombe is to be obtained ;
and new firms are mentioned as likely to commence
operations before long on the Liverpool side, further
south than the town has yet extended. The natural
facilities afforded for the extension of the trade on
the Cheshire side, south of Birkenhead, are likely to
command greater attention, as the demand upon
the builders continue to increase.