78 The Evolution of Floating and Other Dry Docks. 



floating dock was more suited for small than large repairs may 

 be met by the statement that the Vulcan Ironworks of Stettin 

 ordered their floating dock specially to lencrthen two of the 

 largest vessels afloat, which operation is considered the heaviest 

 repair to vessels in a Graving Dock. In passing, it may be 

 mentioned that this Stettin Floating Dock took 9 months to 

 build and can lift the largest passenger steamer in the -world, 

 and cost ;^qo,ooo delivered at Stettin, ready for working. 



Professor Fitzgerald's views re extensibility might undergo 

 some change, if in extensibility is meant increase of breadth, an 

 entire new and stronger bottom would be required for a Graving 

 Dock. Vessels are not cramped for length in Belfast docks, only 

 breadth, and this would put the dock out of commission for 

 years, whereas in a Floating Dock it could be done without put- 

 ting it out of commission more than perhaps a fortnight. 



In reply to Mr. Brown, it would be impossible in Belfast for 

 a private Company to get powers to construct a Dry Dock. 



Mr. Greenhill's remarks are certainly true, Engineers 

 accustomed to concrete, bricks, and stones, invariably try to use 

 them, and Engineers accustomed to use steel avail themselves of 

 that material. Strange that Engineers who advocate the use 

 of concrete where ever possible have been compelled to adopt 

 the very principle of a floating structure for the gates or caissons 

 of Graving Docks, and no doubt by degrees will become converts 

 and construct the whole dock of steel. He (Mr. Maxton) 

 certainly recommend those who had only heard of Floating 

 Docks to go and study them and observe the many advantages 

 they possess. In reference to upkeep between the two kinds of 

 docks there was little to choose, probably the Floating Dock 

 would cost more owing to the greater number of mechanical 

 appliances usually provided, and the painting, but as a matter 

 of fact much fewer men are required to attend a large Floating 

 Dock than are required to work the caissons alone of the Belfast 

 Graving Dock. Forty-one men were engaged round the Belfast 

 Alexandra Dock and on board the vessel recently in dry docking 

 and shoring and working the caisson for a small steamer 



