An item reported that the government of Natal [nowadays part of South-Africa] ordered a Messrs. Clark and Standfield floating graving dock to delivered by Messrs. C.S. Swan and Hunter Limited, Wallsend-in-Tyne, at the port of Durban at the end of 1902.
In the edition of 8 August 1902 was a photo of the dock published and sighted that she was launched on Wednesday afternoon sighted by a large audience. Although of the same type as the dock used at the British naval yard at Bermuda were her dimensions decreased. The dock was divided in 40 water tight-compartments and consisted of 3 pontoons connected with movable points to allow being separated and 2 side walls. The construction in this manner made it possible to dock one of her pontoons by herself. Dimensions 375 (maximum over platforms) x 88 feet and with a distance between the guard timbers on the side wall of 61 feet. It cold dock ships with a maximum beam of 60 feet and a maximum draught of 18 feet with timber keel-blocks with a height of 4 feet resulting in a freeboard of 4 feet. Except for the common timber-blocks were there also 24 sliding bilge blocks available which could be hauled under the ship using ropes from the main deck. The needed machinery consisting of 2 identical installations was situated in the upper portion of the two side walls with pumps delivered by the shipyard. Sudron&Co., Stockton, England manufactured the needed return-tube marine type boilers. Further more was the dock fitted out with horizon compound tandem steam engines made by W.H. Allen, Sons&Co. Linited , Bedford, England, which firm also made the electric light installation. To pull a hip into the dock were on each wall 2 steam capstans available and for centring the ship 4 mechanical side shores, also manually controlled with wheels from the top deck.
Source
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