NEW SEA WONDER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 282, 25 August 1919, Page 6

NEW SEA WONDER

"WEDDING CAKE" SALVAGE-SHU'S. A "mystery 6hip" of a new type has been built at Southwick, near Brighton, for addition to the Admiralty list. Its cost has been nearly ,£1,000,000, and six in 9.11 are to be built. This mystery ship is not like thoso huilt during the war; its purpose is not destruction, but the salving of merchant vessels sunk by the, Germans around our coasts. Their positions fosing known, divers have reported that in many cases they can be raised and refitted for service. , These new salvage ships look like segmented towers, with broad ship-shaped bases. They rise tier on tier like a wedding cake, each tier diminishing in size to the top one, which is over 100 feet above the base. Each tier is mado of numerous blocks of concrete, honeycombed to _ withstand external pressure, but otherwise hollow. Thero are watertight doors, by which the blocks can be filled with' water, and pumps by which the water can be replaced by air. Having no motive power, they are to bo towed in pairs to the neighbourhood of sunk mercliantnien. On a calm day Hie hollow ooncrote blocks will Jjb flooded, and the ships will sink on each side of the wreck. Divers will lash them to the wreck, the water will be pumped .out of tho blocks, and, if all goes well, the tower 6hips will rise, bringing up tho wreck with -them,