Trunks Teesside's answer to the Turret

摘要

The 1890s were a time of strong competition for building cargo steamers, and, as always, competition gave rise to both innovation and imitation. Perhaps the major innovation of the decade was the Turret deck steamer, designed and quickly patented by William Doxford & Sons of Sunderland. It was inspired by some bizarre looking 'whaleback' ships which originated on the Great Lakes, and whose heavily cambered decks were designed to throw off water. In the hands of Doxford's chief designer, Arthur Haver, the whaleback was turned into the Turret deck steamer. The main deck was considerably narrower than the hull, the plates between deck and side plating being curved, so that in cross section the hull resembled a turret.