REFLOATING SUNKEN VESSELS.

Western Star, 30 August 1918, Page 4

REFLOATING SUNKEN VESSELS.

A number of Lyttelton shipping men and others interested in marine insurance attended «n demonstration on Saturday of au invention for the refloating of sunken vessels (reports the Christchurch ‘Press’). The process adopted by the inventor, Mr H. Modo m, of Spreydon, is that of compressed air, and tiie essential point in which his apparatus differs from methods previously in use is in the provision of safety valves, which permit of the escape of the requisite amount of air as the sunken vessel reaches the top. Methods previously in use have been successful in raising vessels, but as soon as the vessel got ‘bo the topi the force of the escaping comprsesed air burst the vessel apart. Mr McGloiu’s scheme provides for huge envelopes of canvass lined with gutta percha, or other similar material, being available on board ships. Each envelope is fitted with a tube, through which air can be pumped when t«.cvessel has sunk, and also with safety valves to allow of the gradual escape of the air as the vessel rises tO' the top. Eor Saturday’s demonstration a roughly-constructed vessel, made of kerosene tins, having a total length of about 3ft by a width of Ift, was used. For the first test about 501 b of lead was put in the hold, together with the air envelope, and) the vessel was suuuk in an iron tank. In the second test the lead was nailed to the keel, and this time the vessel came up on an even keel. The experts who saw the tests were of opinion that the method adopted by Mr McGloiu 1 possesses the germ of an idea which may be possible of application to vessels sunk in harbors or in comparatively shallow wates.