The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-09
LARGEST FLOATING DOCK.
Built I'm England, 1t VIII BE lowed
to the Bermudas.
London telegraph.

London Telegraph.
The great floating dock, said to be the
largest in the world. which has lust been
launched from the yard of the builders.
Messrs. c. S. Swan & Hunter, Limited. OF
Wallsend-on-Tyne, has been built to the or
der of the Admiralty and is to be placed in
his Majesty's dockyard at Bermuda where
it viii replace the old floating dock that has
been there since 1869, and which has now
become obsolete, not through age but
through the insuffciency of its dimensions.
1t is interesting to make a comparison be-
tween the dimensions of the old and the
present dock, for they show the great in
crease that there has been in the size OF
the ships of the fleet. The old dock. like
the present one. was designed with a view
to accommodating the largest vessels that
were then built or buildings The length ~
the former was 3S1 feet over all. but TO OBJ
tam Its maximum lifting power gates were
ntted which reduced its practical length D
80 feet It's inside width was eighty-four
feet between side walls. and its lifting now
er was 5000 tons, which was sufficient for
the ships Of the Bellerophon class 10 Nft
which lt was especially designed. although
II was capable of bringing the keel out II
the water OF vessels up 10 10 200 tons the
then heaviest ships, represented by the
long, fully-rigged line Of battleships Agin-
court and Minotaur.
having no gates, the length Of shin IN can
take in Is not restricted. Its clear width OF
entrance between rubbing tenders is 10
feet. Its lifting power up TO the nOnt00n
dock level is 1850 tons but by ttilizin- The
shallow pound this can be Increased 10 IL z0D
tons, and the walls are Of sufficient height
to allow a vessel drawing thirtv-two feet
to be taken three feet six inches keel
blocks. Primarily il is built TO lift tho line
OF battleships of 1900 tons displacement.
with a length of bearing keel 81 2s2 feef'
but, in addition, IL has 10 deal with cruisers
of the Terrible class. of somewhat smaller
displacement, but with 3S3 feet of bearing
Keel, and, lastly, auxiliary cruisers like The
Campanla, weighing some 1900 tons with
bearing length of keel Of 500 feet II Is evil
cent, therefore, that great LONGITUDINAL
strength is necessary, since while the dock
has 10 deal with the 60O-foot Camnanfa
practically the whole displacement OF ina
S4S Ieet long pontoons have 10 be util ized 10
III III vessel bearing only on some 3s4 feet
OF their length Apart from this. the fact
that the dock, in its voyage ont To Per-
muda, may have to encounter the long roll
ers or the Atlantic. also makes IL fr1nera-
i've that a very stiff form Of structure
should be employed. Like the original Rer-
muda dock, the present one is a self-docb-
lhs-tnat Is, 1t can lift all parts OF itself out
OF water-a most necessary facility in the
subtropical sea Of Bermuda
An electric light installation. with its own
ssenSTIatlng plant, is provided in one wall
LS 10 uehtlng all the interior compartments
OF the dock, and in addition twelve arc
lamps are carried on gallows on ton Of tha
,SILS' Wthch llght up when required the
~-IOie oocE and ship, while further mains
are lea along the docks sides from which
manu- lamps may be taken off TO light I'd
iy particular spot where special work IS
- .IiS carried on y very useful fitting for
nandlng weights either on the dock or shin
WI De found in the travelling and swinging
ia.,I.,c cranes which run along the whole
tensth or each wall. The dock will remain
IN the Tyne until the fittings are completed.
anu IN the early spring she will be towed
- Shatnsifn where her trials will take
BE- BE- consuming In the lifting OF a FIRST
of her pontoons
age 10 Bermuda 100 W