Die Entwicklung der Schwimmdocks

Abstract

"In order to repair and recoat the outer surface of a ship below the water line, its bottom and bilge must be accessible and dry. These requirements were initially fulfilled by the so-called dry docks or graving docks which developed from the dock harbours in England. Because of the fact that the construction of such dry docks is expensive and often technically impractical, the now widely used floating docks were developed from the Dutch camels. The first floating docks were built of wood; later iron came into use for this purpose. English firms, especially Clark, Standfield & Co., are leaders in the construction of floating docks. A large number of patents have been applied for and granted in the course of the years, many of them in Germany, concerned particularly with the issue of self-docking (automatic docking) and the minimisation of the pumping effort. The German navies have played a major role in the construction of pressure testing docks for submarines and large docks for battle cruisers and liners. The development of the floating dock has for the most part reached completion; the improvements still being made are of minor significance and are concerned with the conservation of labour." (author's abstract)