LAUNCHING A SHIP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 118, 5 October 1912, Page 9

LAUNCHING A SHIP

The launching of a ship is an interesting us well as a momentous matter, to say nothing of its spectacular impressiveness. Preparations f°i' « launching are commenced some weeks before the actual event. In the case of a large ship a small army of shipwrights is employed 011 constructing the inclined plane or "ways" on which she slides down into the' water, and the "cradles" by which she is supported during the operation. The ways consist of ••ground" or "'standing ways," and the "sliding ways." The two parallel ground ways, one each side of the keel, are laid under the vessel, being built up from the ground to the required height on heavy timber. On the ground ways are placed the sliding ways, in reality they are deseribable as huge wooden slides. When the time for the launching is due the wedges are driven in simultaneously, thus lifting the vessel off the keel blocks, and leaving her free to gracefully slide down into her future home. There are necessarily a lot of other important details, but we are only outlining tlie underlying principle of launching.