Messrs. S.C. Farnham, Ld., launched on Wednesday at their Cosmopolitan Dock two steel lighters, each of 300 tons' dead weight capacity.
These boats, built to the order of the French Government, were ordered six weeks ago and will be finished complete, ready for service, this week.
The' dimensions are length 180 feet breadth 27 feet, depth 9 feet, loaded draft 6 feet. The lighters are fitted with all modern appliances fur speedy workin of cargo, having two pole musts fitted wi derricks and strong winches. A powerful winch and derrick is fitted on the fore deck for working anchors, Two cargo hatches are constructed on deck, fitted with cargo stages, w an iron bulwark extends all round the outside of deck.
Lo protect the outside of the lighters large double hardwood fenders are bolted through shell plating, being well bound between double angles and all extending the whole length of lighters. A quick and powerful steering gear is fitied on the after deck; all the deck ings and outfit are of first-class order. Choy are built for rough work, and everything is of steel where possible, a'steel deck being fitted fore and aft. In the design quick manquvering hus been taken into account and every effort has been made to combine speedy completion with good workmanship. At the same firm's International Dock a strong, light-draft, twin-screw towboat has been completed which will take the above lighters in tow.
The dimensions of the tow-boat are: length 100 feet, breadth 18 feet, depth 7 feet, She is fitted up with every' requisite for towing purposes, having machinery to develop about 400 LH.P. A deck house is built for officers' accommodation, and above is a house for enptain nnd steering-gear. The tween decks is arranged for crew or soldiers. The bent is fitted with a powerful double gipsy steam windlass and every detail fur a successful tow-bent,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.