The Callao floating dock, the towing of which to its destination from the Tyne was the most hazardous towing feat ever accomplished, merits special attention, both on account of the completeness of its equipment and of the extraordinary interest which was manifested in its journey. It is one of the double-sided self-docking type, known as “bolted sectional,” and is divided into three separate portions. It is capable of lifting vessels having a displacement of 7000 tons, but it is so designed that this lifting capacity may be increased to 9500 tons at some future period by the addition of a fourth section, making the over-all length about 510 feet, the present length being 385 feet. Its extreme width, _i.e._, the clearance between the rubbing fenders, is 70 feet, and the draught over keel blocks is sufficient to take vessels drawing 22 feet. As in previous floating docks built on the Clark and Standfield principle, each section has its own independent pumping machinery and steam-supply. Such usual accessories as keel and bilge blocks, mechanical side shores, rubbing timbers, flying gangways, head capstans, &c., are supplied, and there is also a heavy mooring outfit of anchors and cables. The dock was launched in June 1908, and at that time satisfactorily completed a self-docking trial by lifting one of the end pontoons alongside the Wallsend shipyard. For this purpose the three sections of the dock were disconnected, and the two end sections were turned round end for end, so that their points came opposite to the central section which is square-ended. They were then lowered under the water and drawn in under the central section. On pumping out the end sections they rose, bringing up with them the central section, which was then resting on their pointed ends. The dock left the Tyne on August 20 of that year, in charge of the powerful Dutch tugs _Roodezee_ and _Zwartezee_, each of which has an indicated horse-power of 1500, their bunker capacity being 650 tons and 600 tons respectively. The dock in its journey to Callao was manned by a captain, mate, engineer, and nine sailors. It was fastened to the tugs by extra superior Manila ropes of 18 inches, with 30 fathoms of flexible steel wires of 4¹⁄₂ inches circumference on both ends, while each tug had on board a new spare rope of precisely the same size and quality. One tug broke down on the way, and another had to be sent to Monte Video to take her place. The time taken on the journey was 225 days, but after deducting the delays in the Thames and at Monte Video, the time occupied on the passage was only a little over four months. The long voyage down the Atlantic, culminating in the passage of the dreaded Straits of Magellan, caused the vessel to be kept upon the marine reinsurance list almost from start to finish.