HUGE FLOATING DOCK

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1928, Page 3

HUGE FLOATING DOCK

AN ENGINEERING TRIUMPH LONDON, •Time 8. The 50,000 ton floating clock which is due shortly to leave for. Singapore, has been constructed in the remarkably short time of ten months, by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson at their shipyard, AVallsend-on-fyhe. It is 35511. in length, 172 ft. in breadth, and hns nil overall cloptli of To operate with safety at the Singapore naval Iki.so she will require, about 75ft. depth of water, and can be raised rapidly bv a very efficient pumping equipment, capable of expelling 30,000 tons 'of water per hour. The Mauretania, also built at AYallsend, can lie comfortably berthed in this huge dock with over 30ft. to spare at bow a/id stern. The length can l>c more popularly gauged by the fact that six Trafalgar Square monuments could be laid end to end on the floor of the clock, with ample room at either end. If used as a water tank the doelc would hold 100,000 tons of water. The Nstool work comprises about 20,000 tons of steel,? in the manufacture and haulage of which to the shipyard approximately 90,000 tons of coal would be consumed. In construction 31- million rivets were employed, which, laid end to end, could cover about 170 miles,, or frgm Newcastle to York and hack again. The electric cable used in the Si”" ]*>rt dock would reach half-way from Newcastle to London. As at present arranged the dock will start for Singapore in' two sections, i the'first leaving on June 2lst. and the second on June 28th. Each section will be attended by four powerful tugs, the largest being of 1500 li.p. Owing to the width of the dock, which is 172 ft. special arrangements will he made in passing through the Suez Canal, where the traffic will he suspended during its transit. The dock will, of course,'have all the ■ bottom tanks empty during the voyage, the total towing weight being approximately 26,000 tons. x Special anchoring arrangements will be provided 50 that in case of exceptionally had weather the dock will fOr

main stationary until conditions improve. A small maintenance party will accompany tho dock from tho works at AVallsend.