Welding in Ship Construction & Repair

Welding was introduced into shipbuilding gradually, with great hesitation, after much observation and experiment. It was accepted by classification societies in Great Britain after 12 years' observation of a fully welded ship, and rules for welded construction were framed on the basis of observation of this vessel, the 'Fullagar'. But even then, at least in Great Britain, the greatest shipbuilding country in the world, welding was not in general use for all parts of a vessel.