PORT OF LIVERPOOL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 13

PORT OF LIVERPOOL

A RECORD YEAR

EXTENSION or DOCK FACILITIES Several pregnant questions touching the trade and ths general situation of the Port of Liverpool were dealt with by Sir Helonus R. Robertson, chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Hoard, in his review of the year’s work at a recent meeting of that board. Ho said that from tho returns published by tho board for the year ending July Ist last, dealing with ships and goods which paid rates to tho board, nearly 18i millions tons of shipping entered tho Mersey, of which over Iff million tons made use of the board's docks, and added that it should be remembered that theso figures must bo doubled to arrive at the actual tonnago entering and leaving tho port and tho docks respectively. Tho Hoard of Trade returns for the calendar year 1912 give tho value of tho trade of Liverpool inwards and outwards during that year as £391,452,372, of which tho exports accounted for £202,910,073. All theso figures are records. Liverpool’s trade has now approached the total value of London’s trade more nearly than over, something under £1,000,000 in value only separating the two ports. Or course, as hitherto, the exports at Liverpool are considerably greater than those of tho capital oity. The outstanding event of the year was tho opening of tho Gladstone Dock by His Majesty. This dock has now been brought into commission and has been used by tho Mauretania- and Lusitania. Theso vessels have entered and left the Gladstone Dock with the greatest ease, and it is hoped that it may not bo long now before it is occupied by tho still larger Aquitama—a vessel of 47,000 tons capacity. Hie dock has been constructed at a cost of about £500,000, is 1050 feet long and has an entrance 120 feet wide, ami is so designed that it can be used either as an ordinary wet dock or a graving dock. _ , The other portion of the Gladstone dock scheme includes a vestibluo or large half-tide dock with a river entrance lock 1070 feet long and 130 feet wide, having sills at the level of 30 feet below the old dock Sill. 02 the half-tide dock will bo provided two branch ’ docks, having very deep entrances, long quays and shed accommodation of the most up-to-date character. This work, which is estimated to cost say, £3,000,000, is being carried out as energetically as possible, tho work being restricted only by the number of men available to carry it Improvements have been made in various portions of the estate on both sides of the river, among which may be mentioned the erection of new sheds at the south side of the Brocklebank branch dock and the north side of the carriers’ dock and additions to existing sheds. Further coaling facilities have been provided, and a large extension has been made at tho wool warehouses. , , , . A largo increase has taken place in the tonnage of goods taken to or from the docks direct by rail, and considerable additions have become necessary to meet the growing reqmrem Up S 'to the present the cold storage accommodation available in the port has been sufficient to meet all requirements, but in view of the increasing shipments of frozen mutton from Australia and New Zealand negotiations are in progress for the erection of additional cold stores on the dock estate. It may be interesting to mention that the capacity of the cold stores at present available in the port is about 4,500,000 cubic feet, or sufficient to accommodate 2,700,000 carcases of sheep or 3,600,000 lambs.