harland and wolff belfast shipyard slipways

Cables are buried in the ground behind the dock cope and switchgear is located in a number of underground chambers.

Two equilibrium cylinder type dock filling valves situated in the roundhead at each side of the dock entrance can fill the dock to a level of low tide in less than seven hours.įresh water, ballast water, fire, compressed air, oxygen and propane mains are led around the dock immediately below the cope with connection points at intervals as cope and dock floor level.Įlectrical supplies are provided at convenient intervals around the dock cope level. Two fire pumps are also provided together with two automatically operated pumps for emptying the underfloor drainage system thus preventing a build-up of ground water pressure under the dock floor. Three smaller dock drainage pumps operate automatically to kep the dock floor dry once the dock has been emptied. The pumps can be used in reverse to assist in filling the dock and to pump the level of the dock above high water mark if it is necessary to retain a deep draughted ship afloat in the dock. Two vertical mixed flow pumps each delivering 20,400 tons/hour (76,000 gpm) can empty the dock in less than seven hours when started at low tide. The intermediate gate is assembled from six main sections which are bolted to the dock floor and can be erected in four different positions including one at the entrance where it can be used to replace the main gate.

This allows the next ship on the programme to be commenced at the head of the dock without interference when the main part of the dock is flooded to release the preceding completed hull. The dock can be divided into sections by the Intermediate gate.

Harland and wolff belfast shipyard slipways