BRITISH RECORDS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 19, 17 October 1942, Page 8

BRITISH RECORDS

Efficient Work In Shipbuilding ADVANCED METHODS (Received October 16, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. Britain is building ships faster than ever. A 10,000-ton vessel which, was recently launched was ready for sea nine weeks after the first plates had been laid, aiid a slightly smaller vessel was completed in seven weeks. One shipyard is launching a 10,000-ton ship every three weeks. These records have been attained in spite of the handicap of the blackout. Some marine engineering firms are turning out a complete engine set every .fortnight. The prefabrication method of construction has been employed in Britain for more than a year, and engineering works throughout the country are making standardized ship parts for, assembly in the shipyards. American yards are increasingly following the British shipwelding methods. Seventy-five per cent, of the British ships are now welded, and some of Britain’s largest tankers are now almost completely welded. September saw another albtime shipconstruction record in American shipyards. The Maritime Commission announced that 67 Liberty ships have been turned out in an average time of 70.1 days from start to finish, which is 13 days less than the previous month’s record. When the original contracts- were made it was estimated that construction would require 105 days. In January the average time was 241.3 days. Air. H. J. Kaiser’s shipyards in Oregon have continued to set the pace by delivering 11 ships in September, averaging 42 days.