Sessional_Paper_1924 — Page 131

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XIIIth. International Congress of Navigation, London 1923.

As deep draughted ships necessitate a very large capital outlay at ports to accom- modate them in comparison with ships of moderate draught, the question was considered by the International Congress of Navigation with the view to either justifying or condemning the policy of building ships of great draught, solely with regard to the economical running of these ships without taking into consideration the capital cost of providing wharfage to accommodate them at all their ports of call.

The conclusions arrived at were:-

1. That with regard to the probable future dimensions of ships, there is a tendency for economic reasons connected only with the cost of running, to a general increase in the draught, but that, although the percentage of ships drawing 30 feet and over is likely to be greater, this increase will be limited by the leading dimensions of certain marine waterways and the principal harbours of the world, which should tend to check this increase in draught.

2. That there will be an increase in the average tonnage more especially in that of ships from 5,000 tons to 8,000 tons but not in the tonnage of the largest pre-war ships, in the very near future.

3. That the accommodation to be provided for ships should be guided by considerations of true economy and that against any anticipated saving in the cost of running a ship due to increased draught, the additional expenditure entailed at all Ports at which such vessels will trade * should be taken into account *

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4. That the provision of the facilities for the rapid and economical despatch of goods on arrival at a Port is as important as the provision of deep water quays, &c.

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7. That except for the Atlantic service it is considered that when everything is taken into account, it will be difficult to justify the necessity for a depth of water at the quay side of more than 35 feet at L.W.O.S.T. for many years to come; while a Port providing 30 feet of water at L.W.O.S.T. would be considered a first-class port.

8. That each nation should make an exhaustive study by a committee of various interests concerned, viz:-Shipbuilders, Ship-owners, Dock Authorities, Dock Engineers, and Railway Administrations, and that they be instructed to consider the question of establishing systematic research in the whole subject of economic dimensions of ships and docks as the want of co-ordination in the past seems to have prevented the develop- ment of Ports and Ships on economic lines.

The matter was referred to the next Congress.

Depths of water available at Shanghai and at ports in Japan and on the Pacific coast of Canada and United States of America.

With regard to the Port of Shanghai, ports in Japan and on the Pacific coast of Canada and the U.S.A., the following table gives the minimum depths of water in their approach channels and the maximum depths available at "Open Quays"; and also projected depths.