The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-03
Largest Floating Dock.

The great floating dock. said to be the
largest In the world, which has Just been
launched from the yard of the builders,
Messrs G.. $. Swan & Hunter Uimited)
OF Wallsand-on-Tyne has been built TO
the order OF the admiralty, and is to be
placed in his majesty's dockyard at Ber-
muda. where IL will replace the old float
ing dock, which has been there since 1869.
and which has now become obsolete. not
through age. but through the insufficency
of its dimensions. IL Is interesting to
make a comparison between the demen-
sions of the old and the present dock.
for they show the great increase that
there has been in the size of the ships
of the fleet. The old dock. like the pres
ent one. was designed with a view to ac-
commodating the largest vessels that
were then built or building. The length
OF the former was 3sl feet over ALL but
to obtain it's maximum lifting power
gates were fitted which reduced its prac-
tical length to $50 feet Its inside width
was "a feet beween side walls, and its
lifting power was 5000 tons which was
sufficient for the ships OF the Bellerophon
class. to lift which II was especially de-
signed. although IL was capable of bring
ing the keel out OF the water of ves-
sells upto l0,200 tons, the then heaviest
ships, represented by the long, fully
rugged line OF battleships Aglncourt and
Minotaur.
The present dock Is 545 feet long, and
having no gates, the length OF ship It
can take I'm it's not restricted. It's clear
width OF entrance between rubbing fend-
ers is 100 feet. Its lifting power up TO the
pontoon dock level Is ~ 500 tons, but by
utilizing the shallow pound this can he
increased TO 1900 tons. and the walls
are of sufficient height TO allow ves-
sci drawing p feet TO be taken on three
fapt six ri
Is built TO lift the line OF battleships of
1900 tons displacement with "A length Of
bearing keel OF SiS feet, but. In addition.
Il has TO deal with cruisers OF the Ter
rible class, OF somewhat smaller displace-
ment, but with 3S3 feet of bearing keel.
and lastly auxiliary cruisers like the Cam
pania. Weighing some 1000 tons, with a
bearing, length OF keel of SOP feet. 1t Is
evident. therefore. that Great longitudinal
strength Is necessary. since, while the
dock has 20 deal with the 60O-foot Cam
pania practically the whole displacement
OF the 5i5 feet long pontoons have To be
utilized TO lift vessel bearing only on
some 3Si feet OF their length. Apart from
this, the fact that the dock. In it's voy-
age out TO Bermuda. may have To en-
counter the long rollers of the Atlantic
also makes it's imperative that n very stin
form OF structure should bc employed.
Like the original Bermuda dock the
present one Is self-dOck--that II, u can
lift all parts Of itself out OF the water
a most necessary facility In the sub
tropical sea OF bermuda.
An electric light installation. with It's
own generating plant Is provided I'm ORC
wall for lighting all the interior COM
paremcnts OF the dock. and IN addition
10 arc lamps are carried on gnllows on
top OF the towers. which light up when
required the whole dock and ship. while
further mains are led along the dock 3
sides from which hand lamps may be
taken or Co light up any particular spot
where special work T. being carried on.
a very useful hitting for handling weights
either or the dock or ship will he found
I'm the travelling and swinging electric
cranes which run along the whole length
of each wall The dock will remain In
the Tyne until the fittings are completed
and I'm thc early spring she viii he towed
90 Chatham. where her trials will take
place. consisting IN the lifting Of a nrst-
class line-of-battleship. and the self
docking Of her pontcons.
After this she will start on her Ions
voyage 90 Bermuda s.