WORLD’S BIGGEST SHIP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 11 January 1912, Page 4

WORLD’S BIGGEST SHIP.

The day when ocean liners of one thousand feet in length'will be launched is coining, for it is now stated that Messrs Harland and Wolff are laying down still another “biggest ship in the world,” this time 960 ft. long between perpendiculars. When the Olympic was despatched on her maiden voyage it was promised that the Titanic should be followed by a third big ship, and the Belfast Harbour Board has been discussing the question of widening and lengthening its new graving dock, which is already large enough to accommodate vessels of the size of the Olympic and Titanic. As no other dock in the country, can at present take these vessels, .the disposition of the Belfast board to forge still further ahead is interpreted as significant. The new Trafalgar Hock at’ Southampton will, of course, presently be able to accommodate the Olympic and the Titanic. But it will not serve for a much bigger ship. On the other hand, Liverpool, which is very anxious to keep the Cunard lino in the Mersey, will presently have a graving dock which will practically accommodate a vessel 1000 ft. long. It may bo that Belfast is no more than desirous of keeping ahead of Liverpool, but it may at least point to the fact that a gantry, at Queen’s Island is being extended to a length of 1096 ft. Anyhow, the Harbour Board have, rightly or wrongly, got it into their heads that bigger ships are about due. It transpires that it will be quite easy to widen tire entrance of their graving dock from 96ft. to 101 ft., and to lengthen it by another 100 ft. or 200 ft., practically without putting it out of commission. Clearly, Belfast is ready to continue to set the pace, and by its example to offer much-needed encouragement to other harbour authorities to make ready for the 1000 ft. ship.