Volume Three - The Pontoon Era - Floating dock history and terminology . . .

Inventors, naturally, took this opportunity to extol their own wares, one of them, indeed, issuing a pamphlet in praise of his special type of excavated dock, in the course of which he made a very direct attack on Floating Docks in general. To those acquainted with Floating Docks the complete ignorance of the writer of this subject was very evident, and many statements made were absurd, but as anything printed, unless promptly contradicted, attains a glamour of truth, it seemed to naturally fall upon us, the only firm in the world which makes the designing of Floating Docks a specialty, to reply for and defend the same.

Hence the reason for the publication in the United States of the first edition of the present pamphlet, which was of a distinctly controversial character and was meant to advertise and defend the Floating Dock from the attacks made against it.

The controversial portion of the pamphlet is now no longer required, for time has settled this question - and we may be pardoned if we add in our favour - but the facts and comparisons appertaining to the two types of docks, which were also contained in the same pamphlet, still have their value, for it is a regrettable fact that there is universal ignorance not only as to what Floating Docks can do, but as to what they have done, and. indeed, even as to the number and size that actually exist . . . etc . . .Clark & Standfield, Westminister, May 1901."

There was a addenda to the document which stated:

"WORK IN HAND - April 1902 - Aggregate lifting power now totals up to 100,000 tons. Total length - just under one mile."

The pamphlet goes on in-depth to explain the advantages of a floating dock over a traditional dry-dock installation and says that the time alone to built a masonry dock is 4 to 5 years and in the States it could require up to 15 years to complete whereas a floating dock for the Vulcan Company of Stettin in the Baltic Sea was designed, built, installed and working in seven and a half months from receipt of the order!