MALTA.-Lift Dock.-Length of pontoon, 346 feet; width, 60 feet; depth, 8 feet; draft, with pontoon lowered, 18 feet. This dock can lift, and the pontoon can float, a vessel of 3000 tons dead weight. It is connected to the shore on the south side of the Messida creek by a bridge. There is no arrangement at present for fitting cradle blocks to the girders, so that the pontoon must be in when a ship is lifted, consequently a vessel of more than 18.6 or 18.9 draught cannot enter. A second pontoon, 210 feet by 56 feet, by 6 feet, will carry 1200 tons dead weight. Width between columns of lift, 62 feet clear. ALEXANDRIA.-There are several Building Slips. ODESSA.-There are three Wet Docks, closed with quays. SEVASTOPOL.-The Sectional Dock at Sevastopol can take a vessel 400 feet long, and is stated to be equal to a weight of 6000 tons. Imperial yacht Livadia docked August, 1881. NICOLAIEFF.-The Depositing Dock can take vessels of 400 feet, or 200 feet. SIMON'S BAY.-A vessel of 11 feet draught forward, 14 feet aft, and 1000 tons displacement is the outside that can be taken up on the patent slip, and only at spring tides. COALS.-Welsh, and North Country, also Patent Fuel from Naval Yard. May be purchased from Anderson and Co. Sent alongside in iron lighters at about the rate of 250 tons a day if fine. If purchased, it is sent off in wooden sailing boats holding about 8 tons. TABLE BAY.-OUTER BASIN.-The depth at low water springs close up to the east jetty is 18 feet, gradually decreasing to 7 or 8 at a distance of 50 feet off the western side of the dock; at the entrance there is a depth of nearly 21 feet. INNER BASIN.-There is a uniform depth of nearly 21 feet at low water springs in the passage from the entrance to the outer basin to the entrance of the inner, and inside the basin 24 feet over the whole of the northern part, decreasing to 19 and 20 in the southern portion. The basins are connected by rail with Cape Town. PATENT SLIP.-The Patent Slip at the south end of the inner basin is capable of taking a vessel of 1500 tons. A new Dock is being built, cut out of solid rock; it has 21 feet depth, and is 60 feet wide. COALS.-Welsh, Messrs. Anderson and Co. contractors; sent alongside in lighters and hulks, could put off about 600 tons in 24 hours. Steamers not drawing more than 20 feet can coal in the docks. MAURITIUS.-The Docks are about on a par with those of Bombay; it would not be safe to dock any vessel with a draught over 19 feet 6 inches. "Dry Dock Company," small defects to machinery can be made good. All large castings are done under contract with the "Foreign and Foundries Company." This establishment is quite capable of turning out pistons and shafting, and in fact making good defects generally; it is situated over a mile from the Custom House. COALS.-Welsh, 41s. 11d., and North Country, 40s. 11d. per ton, by contract. Sent off in 50 ton lighters. Can get about 300 tons in a day; about 1500 tons in store. REUNION.-Wet Dock constructing on lee side of island, at Port des Galets (St. Paul); about 20 acres of surface water, with 26 feet depth. Some 40 vessels will be berthed. SUEZ.-Conveniences for entering Dock-30 feet in channel leading to entrance of basin; 24 feet in basin outside dock gates. Maximum draught recommended 23 feet, on account of mud deposit at head of basin outside dock gates. Cost for first day £70, and £35 for each succeeding day. Dock Company take no responsibility. Nothing in the way of stores, merely the dock. No workshops near dock, but at an old P. and O. factory beyond the town of Suez ordinary repairs to hull and machinery can be effected. Dock fitted with rudder well, for convenience in shipping and unshipping rudders. + Denotes the average depth at H. W. Springs from June to October at Calcutta. BOMBAY.-The Government Docks are on the west side of the harbour, near the Custom House. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Docks can be used as one dock. The two Duncan Docks, also the two Mogul Docks, can be used as one dock, 532 feet in length. A gridiron is adjacent for small vessels. The Mercantile Docks belonging to the British India S. N. Co. and to the P. and O. S. N. Co. are about 2 miles north of Bombay Fort; the P. and O. being just north, and the B. S. just south of Mazagon pier. Sassoon Basin is situated one mile north of Observatory. Ritchie Dock (P. and O.) was re-opened in 1880, having been lengthened about 50 feet, but otherwise unaltered. The British India Company's Graving Dock is capable of taking a vessel 350 feet length, 40 feet beam, drawing 14 feet. Hydraulic Lift, at Hog Island, only suitable for flat-bottom vessels, such as H.M. Indian troop ships; authorities declined to take Glasgow or even Columbine. Princess Dock (Wet), opened 1st January, 1880, has an area of 30 acres of water; it is 1460 feet long by 240 wide. There are two entrances, respectively 66 feet and 55 feet in width; the depth on the sills of both is 28 feet at high water ordinary spring tides. The draught for entering is limited to 20 feet. COALS.-Welsh, and North Country, by contract. Sent off in 50 ton dhows. Get about 300 tons a day. From ship's moorings to the coal wharf is about 4 miles, which causes a little delay. CALCUTTA. The Calcutta Dock can be lengthened 300 feet, the Caledonian 200, and the Commercial 40. COALS.-From Indian Government Depôt. Sent off in 20 ton lighters. Get about 200 tons a day. |