The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-07-04 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

BRITISH SHIPBUILDING.
RESTRICTIONS IN THE KINDS GP TIMBER IMPOSED DY
LLOYD'S.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Having noticed for many years that you are ever
willing to further the progress of all arts and sciences that
may conduce to our national benefit, I address to you
some remarks on shipbuilding, embodying facts not
generally known, in the hope that, through your columns,
certain regulations, affecting the rating of vessels for
soundness and assurance, may be abrogated or amended,
with great benefit to our maritime interests. The ques-
tion appears to me, as a practical man, to be of much
importance, especially at the present time, when we are
threatened with an abrogation of the Navigation Laws,
which, if carried into effect, will give to foreign-built ships
an unjust advantage against us, not only on the ocean, but
in the contiguous waters of our own native shores.
In the first place, the ship-building interest in the
United Kingdom—including the merchant, the ship-
owner, the ship-builder, and the carpenter--is greatly sa-
crificed by the extraordinary and expensive manner in
which ships are required to be constructed, and the ma-
terials of which they are composed; while other nations
are taking advantage of us in every way. This is caused
by Lloyd' committee insisting upon our ships being built
of certain kinds of timber specifically described, which are
not always attainable, and not, for some parts of the ves-
sel, better or as good as other wood ; but their regulations
must be carried out, otherwise they refuse to class the
structure, however faithfully put together, "A twelve
years ship." Now, Sir, it is a positive fact, that timber
equally as good, as durable, and (as affecting strength, of
great moment,) of greater length than that to which they
confine their approval, can be obtained more readily, and
at a cheaper rate.
I admit that British oak, if not the best timber in the
universe, is, by its forms, and its durable qualities for ship-
building, highly desirable, so far as the framing and the
knees are concerned. It is also good for planking, but to
procure long lengths for this last purpose is next to an im-
possibility. In this respect our resources in the present
day are scanty and highly expensive. There-is, however, a
very strong and durable timber available for this purpose,
which were it freed from an obnoxious duty, and permit-
ted to be used, would be a good substitute for the best
oak now attainable. I allude to pitch pine, a timber
which has almost in all cases escaped the dry-rot, while
Lloyd's favoured wood, for the same purpose, has perished
from its influence ! Pitch-pine may be had of great
lengths, giving a fine shift of buts ; while their timber, on
the plea of strength, cramps the ship-builder, and often
renders his utmost of skill in putting it together unavailable
in attaining the desired object.
There is at present, sir, (and it can be undeniably
proved) a steam-packet, about twenty years old, planked
with pitch-pine, which is yet in good preservation ; though
constantly exposed not only to wet but to heat. There
are other vessels of the same age planked with it, in equal
sea-worthy order. These facts, without adducing others,
sufficiently prove that the ignorance or prejudice of
Lloyd's committee, and the duty on pitch-pine, put the
English shipbuilder to great unnecessary expense and
trouble ; while the Americans and others are enjoying the
benefit, and sneering at our folly.
A ship of twelve years, or A 1, (and no vessel ought
to class higher,) of a British oak frame, and other kinds of
hard wood, for lower-deck beams, the binding streaks out-
side, and the stringers of shelf-pieces would be very strong.
The timber known as green-heart is allowed by Lloyd's for
the latter purposes,—another instance, in my opinion, of
their folly, for it is not suitable for ship-building—being
liable on a slight longitudinal incision at either end by
axe or accident, to split, splinter, or open out from one
extremity to the other ! What, then, must it be when a
bolt is driven through it ? I contend that it is of no use,
and adds no strength to the ship. The planking outside,
from the bilge to the beads, the top sides, and the ceiling
inside, may be safely made of pitch-pine, for it can be got
of great lengths ; and such planking is the strength of the
ship. The upper-deck beams may also be of the same
material, and, with the frame before stated, a strong,
durable vessel would be the result. _ _

In order, sir, to remove the grievance upon shipbuilders
and others, of which I complain, I would, in conclusion,
recommend—That the present system pursued by Lloyd's
should be abolished ; and that, in lieu of it, a body of
shipbuilders should meet annually in London to decide
on this matter—the same to be elected out of local com-
mittees or surveyors chosen at each of the principal ports.
The duty of the London Committee should be to regu-
late the classification of ships, according to the kind of
material, fastenings, &c., they are built of. This would
afford a great latitude to shipbuilders in the use of ap-
proved materials, new or before known ; and we should
have, on the whole, stronger and cheaper ships in our
mercantile marine than under the present impolitic re-
strictions imposed by Lloyd's Committee. The Govern-
ment should not, I think, have the power of choosing
any of the committee or surveyors. That might be safely
left to the merchants and shipowners. My proposition is, I
consider, well worthy of the early consideration of Parlia-
ment • for the prosperity of the shipping interests is the
life of trade in a maritime and insulated country like this,
while at the same time it forms one of our strongest bul-
warks against foreign aggression, by affording a constant
supply of able seamen.—l am, sir, &c.,
ROBERT TALBOT, Shipbuilder.