Published Resources Details
Journal Article
- Title
- Captain Cook Graving Dock, Sydney: The building of the floating caissons
- In
- Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia
- Imprint
- vol. 24, no. 3, Mar 1952, pp. 61-63
- Description
This paper No.1083, originated in the Sydney Division of The Institution, and is to be presented during the Engineering Conference, 1952, at Sydney.
The author, J. P. Shields, is Chief Engineer, The Sydney Steel Co. Pty Ltd., Sydney.- Abstract
The decision to construct a modern graving dock in Sydney meant that many civil engineering problems new to Australia would have to be overcome, and not the least of these was the fabrication of the floating caissons which are necessary for the sealing of the dock.
It was obvious from the start that, although no special facilities existed in this country for their construction, the caissons would have to be "locally made".
Consideration was given by the Consultants to the possibility of constructing suitable slipways, building the caissons, and then launching them similar to the orthodox method of shipbuilding. The biggest problem in connection with this method was the dead weight of the structure, which was considerably more per foot run than was the case with naval or merchant shipping.
The decision was finally made to build the caissons in the dewatered section of the dock area on a levelled site alongside the East Wharf, and The Sydney Steel Co. Pty. Ltd. was commissioned to carry out this project.