The mirror., 1919-03-27
SHIPBUILDING SIMPLFIED
Brief Description of the Various Stages of Merchant Ship
Construction, From the Laying of the Keel Up
Paper Read Before Prison Chautauqua, by Il. r. g.


VI8a@Sa paper a topic that you are
0AENH all mora or less acquaint-
tA-9g ed with, and l will en-
deavor to take you to an imaginary
shipyard and explain in detail and
to the best of my knowledge the
construction of steel fabricated
ships, from laying the keel to
launching her.
Before going into details l wish
to put in a few words on the man
ner in which the shipbuilders were
accustomed to receive their ma
terial and the present way in
which it is received.
Some years ago when the con.
struction of steel ships was still a
problem, the shipbuilders received
the material for the construction
of ships ready cut at various angles
and lengths and also drilled. ready
to be riveted into place when ar
irving at the shipyard. Many of
these pieces, all of which we're re-
ceived by the carload, we're cut in
correctly, some parts being cut too
long or too short. This material
was sent back to the shops. The
results were that the shipbuilder
had to wait indefinitely before the
material was replaced. And again
material was received drilled in
correctly. the holes being an inch
or two out of the way, and often 1t
was found that some of this ma
terial was not drilled at all; great
deal of time was wasted in boring
and roaming this material.
But at the present time these
difficulties, so to say, are now
eliminated, the waste of time and
energy used in boring and ream-
ing and adjusting all the small
parts being done away with. The
shipbuilder does not wait for his
material to be returned, for it is
not necessary to send the material
back, thanks to the engineers that
have devised this new method of
shipbuilding.
Ali the small pieces are now as
sembled and riveted at the shops
before being sent to the shipyards.
Thus, when the shipbuilder re-
ceives his material, instead of re-
ceiving carload of small pieces
he receives carload of one piece.
This material is now received in
form of large girders, as we'll as
small ones. The large steel plates
that were received drilled incor-
rectly, etc., are now received cut
and shaped, ready to be adjusted
and securely bolted until riveted.
By receiving material in this form
about so per cent of time and en-
ergy is saved. The construction
of ships is much more rapid, for
the parts to be assembled vary but
q fraction and little roaming is
necessary in order that the white
hot rivet may be quickly inser ted
and driven. Small parts are still
received, like angle irons, stan
chions. straps, ETC., but these are
most generally used for the up.
per works. Thus is briefly de-
scribed the old method of receiv-
ing material and the present way
in which it is received.
In the laying of ships keel
much heavy blocking is necessary,
this blocking being short, heavy
timbers a foot Or more square, sci
in piles two or three feet apart
After arranging this blocking into
position, which must be even with
the keel line, the keel is laid there.
on. The keel, which is now re-
ceived in the form of large girders,
is placed into position by means OF
an electric crane, and by signals
from the filter the craneman will
place the first section in the re-
quired position and return for the
second section until the keel is
completely laid. The keel is also