Page 37: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1968)

Electric Boat Division Captain Harry A. Jackson, USN", Supervisor of Ship-building, Conversion and Repair, signs acceptance of the nuclear attack submarine, Pargo, from Joseph D. Pierce, general manager of the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics. Commander Steven A. White, USN, com-manding officer of the ship, watches. Delivery of four new nuclear submarines to the Navy and the return of two overhauled and updated Polaris submarines to fleet duty high-lighted marine systems activities at the Elec-tric Boat division of General Dynamics, Gro-ton, Conn., during 1967. Probably the most significant delivery was that of the Will Rogers, the 41st Polaris sub-marine, which brought the Navy's Fleet Bal-listic Missile submarine force to its authorized strength. Also delivered during the year were the nu-clear attack submarines Sturgeon, Greenling and Pargo. The attack submarine Gato was commissioned on January 25, 1968. The division launched the nuclear attack submarine Narwhal and continued work on six other attack submarines in varying stages of construction. In other marine systems activities, Electric Boat division joined with its sister Convair division to build Buoy Two Alpha for the United States Coast Guard. Electric Boat di-vision fabricated the 40-foot-diameter hull of the navigational buoy while Convair division provided its instrumentation. The buoy will serve as a navigation aid and ocean-data sta-tion at the southern approach to New York Harbor. The division's two research submarines, Star II and Star III, were active throughout the year. Star III was leased by the United States Navy to explore a 2,000-foot depression in wa-ters off Key West, Fla.. and then joined.Star II for dual operations off Nassau for the New Providence Development Corp., Ltd. Star II carried out research missions in Lake Michigan for the University of Michigan and in the Gulf of Mexico for several oil companies. At present Star II is at the company's Ma-rine Technology Center in San Diego, Calif., for further operations while Star III is in Gro-ton for modifications and certification by the Navy. Electric Boat division is currently building three new research submarines for the United States Navy: Autec I, Autec II, and NR-1. The Autec vehicles are two-man craft designed to dive to 6,500 feet. NR-1 will be the first nuclear-powered research submarine. Facilities expansion, a continuing program, saw a new 610-foot graving dock, capable of accommodating two Polaris submarines simul-taneously, placed in operation as part of a mod-ernized overhaul and refueling complex. The complex includes a graving dock built in 1963, a new valve and pump repair facility and an enlarged graving dock support building. At the end of 1967 employment at Electric Boat division totaled approximately 14,000 and the year's payroll amounted to $121-million. Antigua Deepwater Harbour Project Nears Completion Antigua, West Indies, lies in the northeast Caribbean and has been the site of substantial development in recent years. A new bunker terminal was opened there by The West Indies Oil Company, Limited in March 1966. Today this bunker terminal is one of the busier in the Caribbean because of its strategic location on many direct trade routes between U.S. ports and the East Coast of South America and/or Africa. Then in March of 1967, The West Indies Oil Company, Limited's refinery went on-stream and is now producing a full line of products. While most of these products are consumed on Antigua, some cargoes have been exported on the world market. Antigua has been a great tourist attraction for many years and thousands of people arrive at this tropical paradise annually by both plane and ship. Antigua has, of course, been a port of call for cruise ships for many years. The Deepwater Harbour Project is designed to provide berthing facilities for cruise ships and cargo vessels with a channel depth of 35 feet. The dredging operation, which was begun in mid-1967 by National Bulk Carriers, Inc., is currently being completed. The pier's adminis-trative buildings and roadways are well under-way and it is expected that these will be com-! pleted in time for the 1968-69 cruise season. ! Increased growth and investment on the is-land indicate rapidly expanding general cargo traffic to accommodate these new ventures. Ships calling at Antigua or working cargo in the area have bunkering facilities available either at The West Indies Oil Company, Limited's Sea Island just north of St. John's Harbour or at berths in St. John's Harbour via barge. Bunkers are obtained through the Indepen-dent Petroleum Supply Company, 277 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, the interna-tional bunker sales headquarters for The West Indies Oil Company, Limited. Five Groups In Canada Form Shipping Chamber Following months of discussion in the in-dustry, the formation of a Canadian Chamber of Shipping has been announced. W. J. Fisher, general manager of the Canadian Shipowners Association, is the new organization's acting manager. Headquartered in Ottawa, the association will represent its member groups at the na-tional and international levels, present their views to the government and to international shipping bodies. It marks the first time the various associations have joined to speak as one. Founding members include: the Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia, the British Col-umbia Maritime Employers Association, the Shipping Federation of Canada, the British Columbia Towboat Owners Association, and the Canadian Shipowners Association. Inter-est has been indicated by other associations. WELIN Davit & Boat Division 500 Market Street Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861 Tel.: 201-826-4800 (Oof/h Quality lifesaving equipment-Designed and engineered to meet every condition for safety at sea REPRESENTATIVES Roberton & Schwartz, Inc. Dreyfus Supply & Machinery Co. Bell and Company 163 Main Street 2122 Kentucky Street 255 Beauregard Street San Francisco, California New Orleans, Louisiana Mobile, Alabama 1 CONTINENTAL? ^ Copper & Steel Industries, Inc. ^J Year-End Report Shows '67 Payroll Of $121-Million February 1, 1968 39