CONCRETE SHIPS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 7

CONCRETE SHIPS.

Attention has been drawn of late to the new type of ship constructed in Norway, it being entirely of concrete, with the execution of the ribs, which are of steel. Two large barges so built were recently launched at Moss, a small town near'Christiania. It is claimed that the hull will resist damage better than steel, iron, or wood, and will consequently ho safer. The first practical application of the idea of suck “stone ships” dates only a few months back, when the first bargo constructed of this material was launched. It at once attracted much attention inScandiuavia, arid when a second barge of some hundred tons was launched at Mops the Swedish Minister of Marine, Mr Daniel Bostrom, who is himself a large shipowner, wsa present at "the ceremony, 'accompanied by experts, who closely examined the new 'type of vessel in all its details. So satisfied was Mr Bostrom'with the result of the investigation .that ,he immediately ordered a lighter of several thousand tons displacement. A similar, “stone ship,” a lighter for the mining company of Sydvaranger, in Norway, is now to-be built for the oversea, transport of iron ore arid coal. This vessel, having a displacement of 3000 tons, is to be ready before Christmas. Mr Nioolay Fougner, the inventor, claims that shins of any size cn nbe built of concrete with steel ribs. A Swedish expert .on the transport service has proposed that the. new Swedish ferry boats, which are to be built for service between Sweden and England, across the Nosh Sea, should ho constructed of the new material. Besides Ordinary/cargo, these boats could carry entire railway trains across' the 'sea, : haying's, displacement of between 15,000 and 20,000 tons.