Cruise Talk: Launching v Float-out

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Launching v Float-out

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Topic: Launching v Float-out

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 11-23-2000 04:23 PM

A few days ago someone mentioned that large ships aren't launched anymore, they are floated out.

My question, with that in mind is: What was the largest ship (cruiseship, liner, etc.) to be launched?

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-23-2000 05:36 PM

Good question Colin! I suppose it must have been the Queen Elizabeth in 1940 (83,673 tons) at Clydebank Scotland. That must have been some sight

It shows you how ahead of her time she was in terms of scale - it was not until 46 years later that the 'Carnival Denstiny' exceeded her tonnage (101,353). However, Destiny cannot beat her speed. Destiny was of course floated-out.

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 11-23-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-23-2000 06:07 PM

...I wonder what was the last cruise ship to be 'launced' rather than 'floated'?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 11-24-2000 03:18 AM

Queen Elizabeth got my vote as well. I knew she was the largest ship until recently but I just wondered, with the amount of fitting out done after launching, whether she was the largest when she was launched?

You're right. It must have been some sight. Especially as the ship started to move before the Queen finished her speech!

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-24-2000 05:36 AM

Hi Colin, gross Tonnage is a measure of volume, NOT weight! Fitting out after launching would probably not make any real differance to the tonnage.

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 11-24-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Chalk Dust
First Class Passenger
Member # 1272

posted 11-24-2000 12:22 PM

Somebody help me. I'm confused about the gross tonnage thing. I thought that the gross tonnage was the weight of the water displaced by the vessel when it is floating. In order to float, the weight of the water displaced must equal the weight of the vessel. Of course, the weight and the volume are closely related to each other because the density of water is pretty similar everywhere. But since seawater density is not absolutely equal everywhere, the tonnage is given in weight, not volume. Because regardless of the density of water, in order to float, the weight of the water displaced must equal the weight of the vessel. If I have gotten this messed up, please set me straight.

Posts: 47 | From: Flower Mound, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 11-24-2000 07:25 PM

Hi...a quick one on tonnage for you.
The one you are thinking of where the ship displaces it's own weight (the lbs,ozs type of ton)in water is called funnily enough, a Displacement Ton. If you measure the Displacement tons when a ship is built with nothing in her, that is called Light Displacement. Then when the ship is loaded to it's maximum, that is the Loaded Displacement. The difference between them is called Deadweight Tons.
The Gross Tonnage and the Net Tonnage are called Measurement Tons as they are measured at 100 cubic feet equals 1 ton. Very basically, it is the internal volume of the ship, called Gross Tonnage, from which are deducted certain non-earning spaces and allowances, which then becomes the Net Tonnage.

Tonnages are used for different purposes. Passenger ship owners like BIG gross tonnages to make their ships look bigger (they used to add dummy funnels too) Tanker owners use deadweight tonnage to show how many gallons of oil their ships can carry.
Navies on the other hand like displacement tons as their ships have big weight for size. Plus, as Port Authorities and people like that use Net Tonnage to calculate Harbour Dues and other taxes, EVERYONE likes a small Net Tonnage.

Hope that helps....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Chalk Dust
First Class Passenger
Member # 1272

posted 11-25-2000 09:20 AM

gohaze--Thanks! That untangles my thinking.

Posts: 47 | From: Flower Mound, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 11-25-2000 07:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm:
...I wonder what was the last cruise ship to be 'launced' rather than 'floated'?

Any ideas guys?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 11-26-2000 02:12 AM

Maybe the Homeric.

Ryndam

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 11-26-2000 03:40 AM

Malcolm, The photo's I have of Queen Elizabeth show her with virtually no superstructure at her launch. I would have thought that would have made a considerable difference to her GRT.

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

PauloMestre
First Class Passenger
Member # 1613

posted 11-26-2000 05:03 AM

...I wonder what was the last cruise ship to be 'launced' rather than 'floated'?

The ships built on the late 70's/early 80's are the most likely candidates.

[This message has been edited by PauloMestre (edited 11-26-2000).]

Posts: 311 | From: Alhos Vedros, Setubal, Portugal | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 11-26-2000 07:14 AM

Colin...the Gross Tonnage and Net Tonnage are not official until the vessel's Certificate of Registry is issued...one of the last things done.
It's the calculated Displacement Tonnage that is important on launching.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 11-26-2000 10:22 AM

Peter, Thanks for your reply, which I fully understand. But what I was trying to get at was: Was the Queen Elizabeth the largest ship to slide down a slipway? Or was there a 'smaller' ship, launched in a more completed state which made her 'bigger' at the time of launching?

Regards, Colin.

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

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