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Cambridgeshire Company making waves - July 2005 |
CAMBRIDGE company DRC Polymers has helped to restore the world’s first great ocean liner to its former glory.
 Designed by I.K Brunel, the SS Great Britain was the first iron built, propeller driven steam ship to be launched. Its maiden voyage from Bristol was in 1843.
Last month, the ship was re-launched at her original dry dock in Bristol, after three years of extensive restoration work costing £11.3 million. Visitors to the ship can descend under the glass ‘sea’ – 169 glass plates, covered in 5cm of water, which seals the ship in to her dry dock and forms the roof of the dehumidification chamber. This allows a close up view of the giant hull and propeller. Ken Bray, at DRC Polymers supplied the reinforced hypalon used to help create the artificial waterline. He said: “Thousands of people will be visiting the ship for years to come and it’s exciting to have played a role in the restoration process. Our materials helped create the artificial waterline by stopping water from getting to the vessel. This will be vital in ensuring that the steam ship doesn’t corrode in the future. “The project aims to preserve the ship for the next 100 years and I’m sure our product is up to the challenge,” Bray added.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 November 2005 )
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