| Name. | Material. | Owners. | Gross Tons. |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.S. Friary | Iron, | British, | 2307 |
| S.S. Mount Tabor | do., | do., | 2302 |
| S.S. Mexican | do., | do., | 4669 |
| S.S. Rhosina | do., | do., | 2707 |
| S.S. Govina | do., | do., | 2221 |
| S.S. Lero | do., | do., | 2224 |
| S.S. Dolcoath | do., | do., | 1824 |
| S.S. Ville de Strasbourg | do., | Foreign, | 2372 |
| S.S. Ville de Metz | do., | do., | 2375 |
| Total | 23,004 |
At present Mr Laing is building his 301st iron vessel, which represents the 460th vessel produced within the Deptford yard since its commencement in 1793. The work presently on hand chiefly consists of average size steam vessels, combining cargo-carrying powers with high-class accommodation for passengers, several being lighted throughout by electricity, and one being constructed of steel, and having engines on the triple expansion principle.
Connected with the shipbuilding yard there are two graving docks of 300 feet and 400 feet in length, one on each side of the river. One of these is situated at the west side of the iron yard parallel to the building berths, and therefore conveniently placed for all kinds of alterations and repairs to vessels. This dock is kept dry by means of pumps which act as circulating pumps for the condensers of the yard engines. The pumps used for emptying this dock, as well as the one on the other side of the river, after a vessel has come in, are of the “Pulsometer” type of large size. The capacity of these docks is such that in one year alone the amount of shipping operated upon, either in the way of repairs, alterations, or simple docking, has reached nearly 60,000 tons. A large number of vessels have undergone the important process of lengthening in these docks—a special and very important branch of shipwork in which Mr Laing has been conspicuously successful. The largest undertaking of this kind was the lengthening of the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s screw-steamer Poonah in 1874 from a length of 315 feet to that of 395, or an increase of 80 feet. The work was satisfactorily completed, and the results of the vessel’s after-behaviour at sea were communicated, along with an account of the work of lengthening, to the Institution of Naval Architects by Mr Edwin De Russett, of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, in 1877.
Adjacent to the shipyard are extensive brass and copper works, employing about 300 hands, which, besides supplying all the brass and plumber work required for vessels in the shipyard, undertake similar work for other shipbuilders, also work for the Navy, such as cast gun-metal rams and stern-posts for men-of-war, and brackets for outer-bearings in twin-screws. All sorts of steam and other fittings—Manchester goods—are also here manufactured and dispersed to all parts of the world. Within the same premises are situated the requisite machinery for effecting repairs to the engines and boilers of vessels overhauled in the docks.
At present a large range of new Commercial and Drawing Offices are being erected near the principal entrance to the yard. A new joiner’s shop and sawmill will shortly be erected, and other alterations in the internal economy of the shipyard are contemplated. The new range of offices referred to, have a frontage of about 300 feet, and comprise strong room for the preservation of the firm’s books, drawings, &c.; model-room, 40 feet in length; foremen’s room, 40 feet by 30 feet; general office, 42 feet by 41 feet; private offices for Mr Laing & Sons; drawing office, 45 feet by 40 feet; moulding loft, 78 feet by 40 feet; model-making room, &c. An additional and somewhat noteworthy feature in the new buildings will be a large dining hall for the use of those workmen who have their meals brought to them at the yard. Also, a commodious gymnasium for the benefit of the youth in the employ. These are, in addition to the large “British Workman” already in existence, built by Mr Laing for the use of his employés, and for others who care to subscribe. This institution, comprising dining room, game rooms, smoking room and library, is managed by a committee of the employés, and is self-supporting, a contribution of only one half-penny per week being the qualification for membership, admitting subscriber to all the benefits of the institution.
THE WORKS OF THE BARROW SHIPBUILDING COMPANY (LIMITED).
The Barrow Shipbuilding Company, Limited, was promoted in 1876 by several gentlemen in Barrow connected with the Furness Railway, the Docks, and Steel Works, chief among whom was Mr Ramsden (now Sir James Ramsden) then managing director of the Furness Railway, Mayor of Barrow, and leading spirit in its development generally. The Duke of Devonshire, the largest proprietor in the district and in the other public works mentioned, became the largest shareholder and the chairman of the new shipbuilding company, which was then formally constituted, with Mr Robert Duncan, shipbuilder of Port-Glasgow, as managing director. Mr Duncan designed the whole arrangement of the works as they now stand, and continued to act as managing director till 1875, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Sir James Ramsden, with Mr James Humphreys as manager, which position the latter held till 1880, when he was succeeded by Mr William John, of Lloyd’s Register, to whose talent as a naval architect some tribute has been elsewhere passed in this work.
The total area of the plot of land on which these works stand is 58 acres, with two water frontages, each 1050 feet long, one towards Walney Channel, into which the ships are launched, the other towards the docks where the ships are fitted out. The Walney Channel is sufficiently wide to allow of the launching of the largest vessels without risk, and the site is altogether an exceptionably favourable one. The shipbuilding is carried on in that part of the yard adjoining the Walney Channel, being divided from the engine works by a road, under which is a sub-way, which affords the required communication between the two departments.
Entering the shipbuilding department by the main gate-way in this dividing road the visitor finds himself in a large square, formed by substantial buildings; to the left hand on entering, are the offices, and to the right some of the smaller shops. The opposite side of the square is occupied by the machine shed and smiths’ shops, whilst on the right-hand side of the square are the frame-bending shed, and on the left the joiners’ shop and the sawmill. Passing through the offices upstairs, the visitor enters a very fine drawing office and model-room, 100 feet by 50 feet, in which an efficient staff of designers are engaged. On the ground floor are the counting-house, officials’ rooms, &c., and beyond these the stores for the supply of everything required in building and outfitting ships and machinery. From the stores, or by the outside square, the moulding loft, 250 feet by 50 feet, is reached, of which the joiners’ shop is a continuation. This department is 300 feet long by 60 feet wide, and is fitted with every modern appliance in the way of tools to facilitate work. At the back of this shop is an immense room, 600 ft. by 60 ft., occupied by a sawmill, and used also for spar-making, boat-building, and rigging. Above these rooms, in continuation of the drawing office and model-room, from which it may be entered, is the cabinet-making department, which necessarily requires a large amount of space in an establishment where passenger and emigrant ships of the largest types are equipped ready for sea. The iron-working machine shed, 360 ft. by 100 ft., and the frame-bending shed, 300 ft. by 180 ft., follow in order, occupying the whole of one, and most of the other side of the square above described. Both of these sections are fully equipped with the machinery necessary for the rapid manipulation of material. The smiths’ shop, 200 ft. by 120 ft., contains one hundred fires and seven steam hammers, the former being blown by a Schiele fan. Attached to the smiths’ shop are shops for fitting smith-work and for galvanizing. All these shops and sheds occupy less than one-third of the ground devoted to the shipbuilding department.