Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27
NEW MARINE MARVEL
STEEL FLOATING DRY DOCK FOR
STATION AT CAvITE, P. I.
Greatest in Power and Capacity Ever
Built - Will Be Launched
Early in June.

The steel floating dry dock intended for
the naval station at Cavite, p. L., now
nearing completion at the works of the
Maryland Steel Company, near Baltimore
is one of the marine marvels of the world.
1t is the greatest dock that was ever built,
not however. as applied to size (Which is
not the most important factor in structure
of that kind, but the greatest in power and
capacity. With flush decks and no water
in the compartments, it will accOmmo-
date vessel of 2i,447 tons, although there
are no warships of that enormous tonnage
in the United States navy.
With its decks flush and one foot of con-
tanned water. it will accommodate 22,541
tons, and with two feet freeboard and one
foot of water it will hold a vessel of IS
~ tons. The contract called for the ac-
commodation of only 10000 tons.
The dock contains $500 tons of steel and
has 10000 rivets 1t will require 1870 tons
of red lead and linseed oil to paint it. Its
cost was about $1.150, 600. 1t is 500 feet
long over all, 100 feet wide between
tenders, 1874 feet wide over all and ~ feet
high on the side walls clear of the pom
toons. The side walls "a feet high from
the bottom. The thickness of the side
walls is IA feet. The pontoons are 1S12 feet
deep. ,,,.
six and one-half feet of water When SUD
merged il will require siNty-three feet or
water to give draught OF thirty feet ABOVE
the blocks Provision has been MADE OF,
the dock for quartering nine officers AMI
twelve men, 1t is fitted with electric
liz hit service a ventilating system, and dl;-
tilling apparatus for securing fresh WateI
for drinking and cooking purposes. 1t VIII
also be fitted with complete machine
shop. equipped to handle all ordinary re
pairs to vessels taken into the dock.
Some Large Docks.
The next largest dock in the world is the
naval dock at New Orleans. 1t has MT
inc capacity of 1850 tons. The Bermuda
deck, built in England. $40 feet long, 100
feet wide has a lifting capacity of 1850
tons The Pola dock, owned by the Aus
trian government, has lifting capacity Of
Il 600 tons.
The Stettin dock, owned by Germany, is
80 feet long and has lifting capacity OF
liOO0 TONS The Pensacola dock of The
United States government, formerly the
Spanish Havana dock, is 450 feet long and
has a lifting capacity of 10000 tons.
The first floating dock ever constructed
was built in England When 1t was COM
plete, In 1869, it was towed to Bermuda by
two men-of-war the Agincourt and the
Terrible. 1t Semi-clrcular IN shape
and had the appearance of a hugh rocker
The modern docks are square in shape
and consist of bottom or pontoons and two
al Baltimore has the appearance of huge
box with two ends and top missing.
The monster dry dock will be launched
the first week in June. and will be ready
for its test the latter part of that month.
1t will be towed from Baltimore TO Solo
mons Island, at the mouth of the PatuXent
river. where the test will be made. First
a merchant ship will be locked, and then
one of the largest and heaviest Warshlps
in the United States navy will be !lfted
from the water. The test will consume
about two months, after which the ma
chine will sail for Cavite. board OF naval
officers will conduct the test
If the test is successful arrangements
will be made to tow the huge, unwieliy
mass to the Philippines, distance of IL
OoC miles. The voyage will be made around
the Cape of Good Hope, Africa, and Will
consume about six months time. That VIII
be a difficult task. The towing Is TO De
done by vessels of the United States navy
accompanied by feet of golfers