Getting a new ship into the water is, presumably, the most important part of building a seafaring vessel.
Not all ships are created equal — some are simply massive. They all need to get in the water somehow…
Can’t we just toss that bad boy in there?
Yes. The answer is yes, we can.
Traditionally, shipbuilders construct a ship-launching slipway — this is, essentially, a ramp that will slide a ship of any size into the water at full force. There are four ways of going about this:
1. Gravitational
This is something many of us have seen before. A ship slides sideways into the water on a ramp. That ramp has either been made slick with oil or wax, uses steel rollers, or detaches with the ship and is later recovered. The oldest ship-launching method was powered by gravity and is known as longitudinal oiled slideway launching. It uses minimal equipment, but makes heavy use of oil, which can pollute the water.
2. Floating-out
Ships built in drydocks are typically launched this way. Using locks, the drydock is filled with water and the ship simply floats out when launched. This is a much less violent way of launching a ship than throwing it over the side of the dock.
3. Mechanical
Instead of throwing a ship into the water when it can be placed, with mechanical assistance, keeping their smaller craft from sinking is a great option. Large ships, of course, can’t just be picked up and slowly moved, so this method’s for the lesser vessels. However, that introducing any additional element to launching a ship opens more areas for potential chaos.
4. Air bags
This method is the safest for any size ship. The newest form of launching, employed primarily by Asian shipbuilders, uses these hardcore rubber airbags to slowly put a new ship to sea. It’s a safe way for smaller shipyards that may not have access to a slideway to get crafts in the water.
Disclaimer: This video is intended for informational purpose only. This may not be construed as a news item or advice of any sort. Please consult the experts in that field for the authenticity of the presentations.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: We Are The Mighty
