NOTABLE REPAIRING FEAT

Otaki Mail, 7 January 1920, Page 4

NOTABLE REPAIRING FEAT

The following is an interesting account of a notable repair job carried through by tlio Smith’s Dock Company | during the war. Early'last year, the British destroycrLocust was almost cut in two by another vessel while on patrol duty off Blyth. With great difficulty she managed to get as far as the floating dock at Jarrow Slake, where it was found that the damage to her was very serious. There was a large yawning rent in her side, and the whole of the plating, framing, etc., in the vi#initv was torn and twisted into a jagged \ mass, like so much tin. The forward i -I,oiler was practically, a wreck and was almost falling through the hole into the dock. It was, in fact, removed in this way a few days later when the debris* was cut away. .This boiler was so badly ; damaged that it was found necessary 1 I to rebuild it. it was decided by the] Admiralty, chiefly in,view of the great 5 shortage of destroyers, that permanent repairs should be .carried out, and Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd., was entrusted with the work. First, came the necessity of getting the vessel clear of l Hut floating dock, which at that time; ' was in great demand and might be im- \ peratively required at any moment in. -• t h c event’of a sudden emergency. Aftorj

,| discussion, it. was decided that an cn- ; s« deavour should he made to connect the j nvo parts' of the vessel together temporarily apd remove her, if possible, to ) one of Smith's Duck Company’s docks \ at South Shields. This was in itself a very delicate r operation, 'necessitating as it did the lifting up bodily of the fore end of the vessel into an upright position, suitably 1 ballasting it and floating 'it into its Si proper place. The lifting of the fore eml was safely accomplished with tin aid of licavv wire hawsers from the capstans on the sides of the dock. Aftei suitable ballast had been put in, ai rUem.pt was made to float the fore end hut unfortunately, it again capsized ,„d the whole tedious process of liftiTij had to lie repeated. The next attemp was more successful, and the fore em was eventually floated into positiO! and suitably shored; the after cm meanwhile having been floated am made upright. Next canwthe question , of making the vessel £1 ‘to HOSs St't: whole. Largo - C iuuincl girders, etc., were the sides in way of h'nc damage, and two heavy baulks of timber were securely fastened along the deck. In addition, strong cross bracing was provided inside to prevent the possibility of any movement when the two parts became water-borne. At , last the vessel was refloated, lowed I down to the High Docks, and safely j berthed in No. 2 Dock. When the dock was pumped out it was found that the work of temporary repairs had been so well carried out that the two parts were practically dead in line, and needed no 'adjustment. Permanent repairs were immediately proceeded with, and the j whole of the hull of the ship in way of the boiler-room was rebuilt. Other extensive repairs were carried out, notably rctubing of the boilers, and the vessel was completely refitted.