THE SINGAPORE FLOATING DOCK

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 2

THE SINGAPORE FLOATING DOCK

Tho new Singapore floating dock, which ■ some 200 members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers were able to visit at'Wallsend last Friday, has many features of considerable electrical interest. Apart from tho consideration necessarily given in the design of the electrical plant to the humid atmosphere and tropical temperatures which will be experienced in Singapore, the scheme of electrical distribution had to be arranged subject to the essential requirement that any section of the dock could itself be separated from and docked in the remaining portion of the dock. This necessitated tlie installation of a complete plant, so arranged that it could be divided into two separate and distinct sets of generating plant, with their attendant systems of distribution. Again, in the provision of generating plant three widely varying sets of conditions of dock operation had to be provided for. While a_ ship_ is being docked the power required is mainly for pumping. When a largo ship is in dock under repair the mam pumping plant will not be in use, but all tho other resources will bo working, including the supply of electrical energy night and day to the docked ship. Finally, at times when tho dock is not in use for the docking of a ship ordinary maintenance work will proceed during working lioui's, but for tho remaining time there is only a. small load lor essential lighting and ventilation. Natural admiration for this fine piece of engineering work is enhanced by the knowledge that it was built in record time, and the dock stands as an example of what can be accomplished in this country by coordination and united effort.