WELLINGTON'S DOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 7

WELLINGTON'S DOCK

LAUNCHING CEREMONY

THE END SECTIONS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON' 4th June.

Messrs. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson have built more floating docks than anyone else in the world, ana of all types and sizes. The lifting capacities of the docks built by them range from a few hundred tons to that of the famous Admiralty Floating Dock at the Singapore Naval Base, which can accommodate ships up to 55,000 tons displacement. These builders are now busy with the completion of a large floating dock for the Harbour Board of Wellington.

On 30th May, in the presence of a great company of visitors;, the first portion, consisting of the'two end sections, was launched. Tho ceremony was successfully performed by Mrs. A. G. Barnett, wife of tho secretary of tho Wellington Harbour Board, who was also present together with Mr. Tom W. Martin, the chief mechanical engineer to tho board, and Mr. W. Struthers, the resident overseer of Messrs. Clark and Standfield, of "Westminster, consulting engineers to the board. t Mrs. Barnett broke the customary' bottle of wine on the deck of the sections to bo launched, and with an appropriate message of good, luck moved the lever, which released the trigger of the launch, ways, allowing tho structure to glide into the river.

The leading dimensions of this floating dock aroan overall length, of 584 ft and a width of 117Jft. The inside clear width between the fenders is 88ft. The depth of pontoon, is 14ft. The dock is divided into seven sections. It is double-sided, and is of the sectional box, self-docking type. For the purposes of inspection and repairs, any section of the dock can be detached and lifted upon the remainder of the dock. When floating in salt water the dock will be capable of lifting a ship displacing 17,000 tons, and it can. be sunk to a depth of 26ft over tho keel blocks.

The sinking and the lifting of the whole dock will be controlled from a valve-house on the starboard wall about amidships. A most ingenious electropneumatic system -will be installed for operating the valves. On a table, which is virtually a plan of the dock on a small scale, are placed all the controls needed for manoeuvring tho dock. Above this table is a gauge to indicate the depth of water in each tank in cacli section of the dock. ■ Special telescopic sights will bo installed to men sure any deflection in the dock.

Along the full length of tho walls on both sides of the dock arc the main pipes carrying compressed air to servo the electro-pneumatic valve gear and also pneumatic tools for use in repairing ships. The walls also carry waterpipes for a most complete and efficient service for fire extinguishing and for washing down.

When a ship is being docked the bilge blocks and also the side shores arc all worked mechanically from tho top deck of each wall.

On each of the four corners of the dock walls is an electrically driven warping capstan for manoeuvring ships in and out of tho dock. On the port wall there will be placed an electric travelling crane of five tons lifting capacity.

The towage will constitute a most remarkable feat, though Messrs. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Kichardson are accustomed to undertaking such great responsibilities, having in past years successfully delivered floating docks to Callao, Singapore, Durban, Bermuda, Lagos, as well as to other foreign ports nearer home.

Temporary living accommodation will be arranged'in the dock for a crew to live on board during tho voyage. There will also be temporarily installed a boiler on the pontoon deck for supplying steam for the windlass and for ballcst pumping.