Back to the Norsemen

Favorite shipbuilding technique of the Norsemen was to dam the water out of a fjord, build the ship on the ground, float her off by breaking the dam and letting the sea back in. Last week Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp. (South Portland, Me.) was using this old Viking trick and Maine's nine-foot tides to speed construction on 30 $1,600,000 pre-fabricated freighters for Britain. Having no fjords, Todd-Bath steam-shoveled a basin about five feet below water. At launching time (around May 1) the incoming tide bubbling through opened gates will gently float the ship to open waters.

Infrequently practiced, advantages of this method include economy and elimination of the strain on boat and builder during the few seconds in launching when the stern rests in the water, the bow rests on the ways, but nothing supports the waist. Before 1941's end Todd-Bath will have seven basins, some large enough to nurse and float three ships at once.

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