FLOATING DOCKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6411, 7 January 1908, Page 6

FLOATING DOCKS.

Considerable development has occurred in reoent years in the provision of heat-, lug docks. Docks of this character are actually In existence, or are under construction which are adapted for dealing with the largest ships of wax and the most capacious liners. Our own Navy has a floating dock at Bermuda capable of lilting warships np to 16,600 tons deadweight, and tho navy of the United States poaweses docks of even greater lifting power. On the commercial side, a floating dock Is being constructed capable of lifting ships up to 36,000 tons deadweight, thereby posseesing sufficient power and dimensions to deal with vessels of about tbe sixe of tbs new Cunarders. It is claimed for floating docks, and. of course, rightly so, that they are distinctly cheaper than graving docks, and oan bo built much more rapidly. H Has also been stated by Mr Dyonel Clark, who has done so modi for this system of construction, that there axe docks of this character, at present in existence, which have boon working for over forty years. Those which are self-docking, or can be docked, and which have been carefully looked after, are, he says, still in good condition. Others, which have never been docked, but allowed to slowly deteriorate are now practically worn out. To compare such docks with' graving docks, tbs conditions of the site and the nature of the accommodation to be provided will, on careful investigation.gencrally indicate in which direction tho balance of advantage lies. The two types are not rivals, and there is no question of ono supplanting tho other; they axe both efficient, each posseesingits own special feature*, and if irto r the engineer to examine carefully these points as circumstances arise, and to decide which of the two is tho mors suitable for bis purpose.—" Engineering."