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In A Shipyard
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FITTING OUT THE HULLImmediately after the launch tugs take the floating hull round to the fitting-out berth, where she will remain while giant fixed or floating cranes, able to play with weights of 100 tons or more, lift her engines or turbines, boilers and funnels aboard. For months she is in the hands of engineers, electricians, painters, plumbers, glaziers, upholsterers, decorators, and a host of other craftsmen. And then at last she is ready for her trials. Her engines are tested by running them for twenty-four hours or forty-eight hours continuously while she is still tied up in dock. If everthing is all right, she is allowed to show her paces in the open sea. Then follows the cleaning and painting of her bottom in dry dock, after which she is ready for her official trials. These include steaming over a course where the distances are clearly shown by landmarks. Once these tests have been passed to the satisfaction of all the experts concerned, the ships proceeds to what will be her home port, and is ready to load up for her maiden voyage. A great many people are interested, and not a few are even a little anxious about this first voyage of a new ship. However careful everyone has been there is always the vague possibility of some weak point revealing itself under the stress of this first voyage. Generally speaking, however, any faults have been discovered during the final stringent tests, and the ship has been passed 100 A1 by Lloyd's surveyors. A maiden voyage is usuallyin the nature of a happy chritening party, the first chapter in a long and useful life on the great oceans. |