New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-27
DETERIORATION OF STEEL SHIPS.
THE ATLANTA AND OTHER STEEL VESSELS OF
THE NAVY AFFECTED BY BARNACLES AND
CHEMICAL ACTIoN-A REMEDY PRO.
POSED THAT WILL PROBABLY
RE ADOPTED.

BE ADOPTED
What constitutes a proper coating for a vessels
under water lines? This is question that has been
revolving I'm the scientific minds of naval constructors
and engineers for long time and that must be
settled now that the steel Navy is well under
way In fact, officials at the Navy Department have
had under consideration for long time several p @
vcnrlves7 against tho foulng Of ships bottoms, and
the sentiment about to settle upon sheahns as
the remedy. There have been end OF mixtures
proposed and tried antffoulcis. For some time
a mixture Of red lead and white zinc has been used.
but 1t is not effective Zinc has been proposed and
tried on vessels bottoms but has proved sufficient
The japanese have discovered mixture. kind
of lacquer such a is used most of their work.
which is claimed to he All excellent coating for tho
submerged portions of ships huls to protect them
against marine growth and pittinc By votac action.
But It is 50 expensive 10 be practically ont Of
the question TO adapt It to use upon vessels of the
Navy.
The frequent docking Of the steel cruisers has
shown how rapidly the marine growth accumulates
upon them, especially at the Navy Yards and in the
Pacific and the effect that has been produced upon the
huls through chemical action. The Ranger. ono OF
the oldest of the iron vessels in the Navy. duty
in the Pacific recently put into drydOck and about
twelve tons Of barnacles and other growth removed
from her Before this done her speed had been
reduced from eight knots an hour on seven tons Of
fourteen tons per day The Alert, sister ship to the
Ranger had had tho experience. and her com
mapder reported The bottom very foul. IL being
estimated that moro than twelve tons Of bamacles
were taken dock this ship II cost for the four
days we we're IN dock S27S2 in money. Running from
Payta to Caao before docking, we used eighty tons of
coal. obtained here at 500 per ton. amounting to
81 500. II the bottom had been clean we would have
used only twenty-five thirty tons for the trip, MAX
ing saving OF 81 600"
The Atlanta originally received a coat OF anti
corrosive paint next 10 her plating, ana an
outside coat Of and-barnacle- clnging paint On
an examination of her hull about three months
ago it was found that the barnaces had eaten
their way through the anti corrosive paint ana hrhF
attached themselves 10 the ships bottom Inc ehect
Of this growth upon the speed of vessels has been
frequently demonstrated For instance, upon the SIN
hours trial on April Is, 1887, the Atlanta attained
a speed Of Is 10 knots but her recent trial at
Newport her speed was a little over 10 knots only
This difference was accounted for by the TACT tIat
she had been living In the foul waters OF "dildoon'
Bav for several weeks before tho trial. ana large
marine growth had become attached TO the Douonl'
The Dolphin. on her recent cruise around the word
became foul the bottom that hef speen was
materially lessened and when she went INFO dly d'ch
in England several tons Of stuff taken from her
bottom.
A more serious evil to steel ships than fouling
and not so easily remeded IS the pittlng OF The
hull from galvanic action due 10 various causes Inns
deterioration has been particularly exhibited In all
of the new ships Frequent docking of steel vessels,
both of the Navy and of the merchant marine has
been shown to be necessary; and frequent docking
means great eyncnse especially those OF the Navy
when private docks are used. serious question IN
connection with the docking Of naval vessels Is Sus-
cescd by Naval Constructor Hichborn-thai oil ht'r-
national law II coal and other supplies are declares!
contraband Of war will not the docking OF war
vessels be placed in the same category ana
unfrlendy nation would no doubt say - No coal or
docking facilities permitted TO bellieeIentS" what
Is to be the remedy This was the question discussed
before the Naval Institute recently by Constructor
chborn and he demonstrated the necessity Of sheath
ing 1t Is not a new idea. sheathins was In use so
carry as the first century Of era and then The ART
was lost and subsequently Iediscoyered The question
Mso came up during the construction OF the koach
CIulhefh put Wa decided adversely by the AdNs0ry
Fl hoald Their objection was that the weight OF le
shoahlhg increased the dir placement. or, that u would
through The water
The sheating Of vessel is the IA tcning Of sheets
ol SIo} VI copper on the submerged portion OF me.
w Pmtttse " We Dolphin, has invented d prIhI
metal which has been expef1mcnted with, and which
III W & hlchDOrn recommends for an OF me Nes
now being manufactured by the AnsOnia Brass and
copper company TO be used in the construction Of
W HsGhb,nry .5 Tor The new cruisers Mr.
tho displacement OF vessel but no more 50
than The weight Of barnaces. and that seventeen
Knot sheaihfd vessel that Will foul her bottom and
viii make ui speed when called upon Is better than
twenty knot one that cannot get away from dry
dock,