DOCK'S FIRST TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 73, 28 March 1932, Page 6

DOCK'S FIRST TRIAL

THE RUAHINE SELECTED

The Wellington public will have the first opportunity of seeing the floating' dock in action on Thursday morning, when it "will be sunk to receive the New Zealand. Shipping Company's liner Euahine, which will be lifted high and dry. Final submergence tests will probably be made to-morrow, and it is expected that the dock will be completaly ready for the trial on Thursday, by which time the Buahine will probably have completed the • discharge of her London cargo. The Ruahine, a vessel of 10,870 tons gross register and 6872 tons net register, has the following dimensions: Length, 480.6 ft; breadth, 60.3 ft; depth, 32.1 ft. She was 'built in 1909 I at the Dumbarton yards of Messrs. W. Denny and Son for the New Zealand passenger and cargo trade, and has proved one of the most popular ships in the service. In handling the Euahino the dock will have ample room to spare both at the sides and at either end. The dock has a lifting capacity of 17,500 tons, and the Euahine probably weighs in the vicinity of from 9000 to 12,000 tons. The actual floor of the dock is 527 ft long, but this is increased to 584 ft by the platforms at each end, on which the workmen stand. The width, of the dock at the entrance is 88ft, which will allow a vessel with an 80ft beam to bo docked. The dock draws 44ft of water when sunk to its lowest depth to take in a. vessel.