Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1910 — Belfast’s Great Shipyard [ARTICLE]

Belfast’s Great Shipyard

N MANY respects Messrs Harland & Wolff’s shipyard, 4 Queen’s Island, Belfast, is gc -c £ the most remarkable con--555 cern of kind in ———J world. For many years past they have taken the lead in the construction of the largest ships afloat; they have cut two of the finest liners on the seas in twain, and added considerable to their dimensions; and they have built half a vessel, the stern half, and had it towed safely from Belfast to Southampton, where it was built into the other half. At present on the stocks of their North yard two mammoth White Star boats of 45,000 tons each are fast approaching the launching stage. This line's entire fleet has been built by Messrs. Harland fc Wolff. » From the available record It appears that the first Belfast built ship was a wooden schooner of 150 tons, the builder being a local Presbyterian clergyman. This was in 1836, but it was not until 1850 any serious attempt was made in the shipbuilding line so far as Belfast was concerned. In that year Messrs. Thomas Barnes & Co., in addition to starting the Belfast iron works, erected' a small slip on the now famous Queen's Island, which has long since lost Its Insular position though still retaining the name which was given it after the late Queen Victoria’s visit In 1849, previous to which it was known as Dargan’s Island. The ironworks proved a failure, owing to the heavy expenses incurred In bringing the coal and iron ■take to Belfast, but the small ship, yard thrived exceedingly under the supervision of'Messrs. Robert Hickson & Co., who acquired It from its founders. Mr. Edward J. Harland, an Englishman. was manager for Messrs. Hickson, and in 1859 he purchased the concern from Messrs. lHckson. as well os a small yard adjoining, belonging to the Belfast Shipbuilding company, abere wooden vessels only were built.

Two years later Mr. Harland was joined in partnership with Mr. Oustavius Wilhelm Wolff, a wealthy German, and in 1874 Messrs. Walter H. Wilson (deceased) and William James Pierre (now Lord Pierre), pupils of the firm, were also made partners in the concern, which was subsequently floated as a limited liability company. The business of the firm from the very outset continued to increase by leaps and bounds. In the year 18S4, exactly 15 years after Mr. Harland acquired the controlling interest in the concern, there were launched from the Queen's Island yard 42 vessels, aggregating 105,626 tons burden. In the three years ending 1890 their total was 31 vessels, of 126,175 tons. On three ocaslons since they have achieved the record 12 months world’s output, the figures being: In 1907, 82,240 tons; in 1903, 110,000 tons, and In 1908. 106,528 tons. But perhaps one of the longest of several very tough tasks undertaken by the firm of Harland & Wolff was the lengthening of the Castle line Royal Mail steamer Scot (now the Oceana, of the Dutch Red Star fleet). It was in 1896 that the Scot, a Green-ock-built steamer of some seven or eight thousand tons, was sent to Belfast to have 50 feet added to her length amidshlp. Messrs. Harland & Wolff undertook the job. The vessel was cut in halves, and with the aid of powerful Jacks the two ends were pulled the required distance apart. Each end was several thousand tons dead weight, yet the work was accomplished without hitch or accident of any kind to the complete satisfaction of the owners. Towards the end of the same year the Hamburg-Amerlcan liner Augusta Victoria was similarly lengthened by 60 feet. Still more remarkable, probably, was the building of the bow portion of the rejuvenated White Star liner Suevic, when that vessel was taken pieced meal off the rocks at the entrance to the English channel some four or five

years ago. The stern portion only was saved and brought round to Southampton, where it remained until Messrs. Harland & Wolff built the bow end, 260 feet long, in the south yard, subsequently, with the aid of three Liverpool tugs, bringing the weird looking half ship right down the Irish channel, round the Land’s end, and up to Southampton. The repairs to the China, of the P. and O. line, and the Paris, of the Amer;can line, were also remarkable undertakings, as was also that of the St. Louis lor the latter company The China. It was in 1870-the first Oceanic was built on the Queen’s island for the v\ hits Star company, it was a vessel considerably under 1,000 tons. The second Oceanic, launched in 1892, has 18 times the tonnage almost, while even up till the present day no one outside the management of the firm with the exception of the heads of the White Star company, knows the exact dimensions of the two giant boats now being built |for this great ocean carrying firm, so well has the secret been guarded. That they will be between 820 and 840 feet in length and of about 45.000 registered tonnage, is the extent of knowledge of the outside public regarding these monsters. The firm can in no sense be regarded as builders for speed, elegance and comfort for ocean voyagers being their especial motto. None of the boats built by them is Intended to exced 21 knots or 21% knots, which it is understood, will be the rate of traveling of the coming White Star leviathans, the motive power of which will be on the combination principle of reciprocating turbine engines. At the present moment between 11,000 and 12,000 employees are in constant employment, working at high pressure night and day shift, and receiving wages to the tune of over £20,000 per week, while the area of the is about 120 acres.