FLOATING DOCK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 10

FLOATING DOCK

HARBOUR BOARD’S DECISION A HUGE PONTOON SITE TO BE PREPARED AT KAIWARRA An important decision was made last night by the Harbour Board, when it agreed to the provision of a floating dock, with a net lifting power of 15,090 tons. The dimensions of the proposed dock are more than sufficient to enable it to lift the largest ships trading to New Zealand, and provision is made for future lengthening if required.

After the matter had been finally discussed in committee it was reported that the board, having considered a report submitted to it by its chief engineer as a result of his visit to Great Britain, had agreed to the provision of a floating dock for the port of Wellington, and had approved of the general plan for such a dock prepared upon information supplied by the board's chief engineer. That the site for the proposed floating dock be at the end of the Thorndon sea wall, in the position suggested by the board’s chief engineer, and shown on the berthage plan That when the board was in a position to let a contract for the floating dock, working drawings be prepared and tenders called lor its construction and erection. That, as soon as the Thorndon reclamation was sufficiently advanced, the necessary approach, jetty, and mooring berth be put in hand, and the site of the floating dock dredged to the requisite depth. The general dimensions o' the proposed dock, which is of the sectional box self-docking type, are as follow :— Net lifting power, 15,000 tons. Overall length over platforms, 560 feet. Length of dock over pontoons, 503 feet. Overall width of dock, 114 feet. Clear width between fenders, 83 feet. Draught of water over keel blocks, 24 feet. Lifting time, 10,000 tons in two hours. Provision is also made for future lengthening by a further 69 feet.