The Beginning of a Steamship
Probably no form of construction is so interesting to everyone as the construction of a huge steamer, a wonderful “city” afloat, with its thousands of passengers, its thousand officers and crew, the tremendous stores of provisions and water, and the precision with which the great ship plows its way from one shore to the other.
This picture shows the first work in building a modern steamer, laying the keel and center plate, upon which the massive hull is constructed. The rivets are driven by hydraulic power, noiselessly but firmly. In the new “Britannic”—largest of all British steamers and the newest (1915) modern leviathan—over 270 tons of rivets—nearly three million in all—were required to give staunchness to the steel-plated hull. The cellular double bottom is constructed between the bottom and top of the center plate.
A LONGER VIEW OF THE ABOVE OPERATION.
THE CRADLE OF A STEAMSHIP CALLED A “GANTRY”
VIEW NEAR THE BOW.
The “ribs” of the “Britannic,” showing the deck divisions, in outline. The huge “gantry” or cradle of steel, in which “Britannic” was built, cost $1,000,000.
THE DOUBLE BOTTOM OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS
THE “BRITANNIC” OF THE WHITE STAR LINE. VIEW OF THE DOUBLE BOTTOM PLATED.
THE HUGE STEEL SKELETON OF THE “BRITANNIC” BEFORE THE PLATES WERE PLACED ON IT.
The plates are seen piled in the foreground. The largest of them are 36 feet long and weigh 4¹⁄₄ tons each.
THE SHIP READY TO LAUNCH
NOT A “SKYSCRAPER,” BUT A FLOATING HOTEL IN PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION.
THE HULL ITSELF IS 64′ 3″ DEEP, AND FROM THE KEEL TO THE TOP OF THE FUNNELS IS 175 FEET. THE NAVIGATING BRIDGE IS 104′ 6″ ABOVE THE KEEL.
WHITE STAR
ROYAL MAIL STEAMER
“BRITANNIC”
READY TO LAUNCH.
The “Britannic” on the ways at Belfast (Harland & Wolff’s). The largest gantries ever constructed to hold a ship.
THE MACHINERY USED IN LAUNCHING A SHIP
FORWARD LAUNCHING GEAR (HYDRAULIC).
The ship went from the ways into the water in 62 seconds and was stopped in twice her own length.
THE HUGE HULL LEFT THE WAYS EASILY AND CREATED ONLY A SMALL SPLASH.
A CLOSE VIEW OF A SHIP’S RUDDER
“BRITANNIC” HELD UP JUST AFTER THE LAUNCH.
“BRITANNIC.” THE 100-TON RUDDER. THE (CENTER) TURBINE PROPELLER SHAFT AND ONE OF THE “WING” PROPELLER SHAFTS.
WHAT A SHIP’S PROPELLER LOOKS LIKE
THE COMPLETED SHIP
The center (the turbine) propeller, 16′ 6″ in diameter, cast of one solid piece of manganese bronze, 22 tons in weight. The “Britannic” like “Olympic,” is propelled by two sets of reciprocating engines, the exhaust steam from these being reused in the low-pressure turbine, effecting great economy in coal. The two “wing” propellers are 23′ 6″ in diameter and weigh 38 tons each.
WHAT A SHIP’S TURBINE LOOKS LIKE
The turbine motor, 130 tons in weight (Parsons type). The steam plays upon the blades with such power that they develop 16,000 horse-power and revolve the propeller (turbine) 165 times a minute. The motor is 12 feet in diameter, 13′ 8″ long, the blades (numbering thousands) ranging from 18 to 25¹⁄₂ inches in length.
THE IMMENSE TURBINE MOTOR FULLY ENCASED—WEIGHT 420 TONS.
HOW A FUNNEL APPEARS BEFORE IT IS IN PLACE
One of the four immense funnels—without the outer casing. Each is 125 feet above the hull of the ship and measures 24′ 6″ by 19′ 0″.
WHAT A GREAT STEAMSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE IF SPLIT END TO END
This view will give some idea of the interior arrangement of the huge White Star Line triple-screw steamer “Britannic.” Many features undreamed of a dozen years ago have been introduced in the passenger quarters of this ship. As many decks are necessary to provide the required space for state-rooms, public apartments, promenades, etc., several passenger elevators have been installed, which are a great convenience for those who find the use of stairs irksome. There is a fully equipped Gymnasium, a children’s Play Room for the younger passengers, a Squash Racquet Court, a Swimming Pool with sea-water, and the Turkish Bath establishment.
There are accommodations for over 2500 passengers as well as a crew of 950. The view shows how the ship is divided into numerous water-tight compartments, so that should several of these sections become flooded the rest of the ship would remain intact.
The lifeboats, of which there are sufficient to carry all on board, are handled by a new device, by means of which the boats can be launched, when filled, with greater ease and safety than hitherto. Each of the great davits can handle several boats and they are long enough to carry the boats clear of the side of the ship, should any accident cause her to list to one side.
The “Britannic” is nearly 900 feet in length, and with her gross tonnage of 50,000 is the largest British steamer in the world.