Slip

Slip, in a dockyard, is a smooth inclined plane, sloping down to the water, on which a ship is built. It requires a very solid foundation. For the repair of ships of comparatively moderate size slips were designed by Mr T. Morton, Leith, and consist of a carriage with blocks, as in a graving-dock, working on an inclined railway extending for some distance beyond high-water to a sufficient depth below low-water of spring tides to enable vessels to be floated on the carriage. When the vessel is floated over the cradle powerful hauling gear, worked by steam or other power, is set in motion to draw the ship out of the water. At the Tyne, for example, the slipway is 1000 feet in length, and a hundred vessels yearly are repaired on it. Slipways are useful adjuncts to slipping ports, and for vessels up to 2500 tons register they are better than a dry-dock, as better light is afforded for making repairs, and no pumping is needed; but this size is nearly the limit, though there is no good reason, if the slip and gearing be made strong enough, why larger vessels may not use slipways. See DOCK, SHIP-BUILDING.