The designers, Clark & Standfield produced a pamphlet [020] for the US market expounding the virtues of the floating dock or pontoon over the fixed installation of a graving dock, otherwise known as a dry dock.

"The following cut illustrates the Floating dock that we at present designing for the British Admiralty, and which is to be placed at Bermuda, Messrs. Swan & Hunter being the constructors.

The length of this dock is 545' - 0" (166 m) over the keel blocks, its width of entrance 100' - 0" (30.5 m), and it is capable of normally taking vessels drawing 33' - 0" (10 m) of water over keel-blocks 4' - 0" (1.2 m) high . . . Its lifting power up to the pontoon deck level is 15,500 tons, but by utilising the pound formed by the bulwark surrounding the pontoon decks, additional lifting power can be gained.

The engine power of this dock is sufficient to lift an ironclad displacing 15,000 tons in three and a half hours. It is being built on the Tyne, and, when completed and tested there, will be towed to its destination as a complete structure."