Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1969)

Bethlehem Sparrows Point Awarded Contract To Build Multi-Product Tanker Hendy International Company, representing PPG Industries, and Bethlehem Steel Corpora-tion, have reached agreement for the construction of a special tanker to serve a new PPG chemicals complex in Puerto Rico. The 33,400-deadweight-ton ship will be con-structed by Bethlehem's Sparrows Point, Md., shipbuilding yard at a cost in excess of $15-million. The Hendy organization, of Los Angeles, will operate the vessel. A multi-product tanker, the ship will deliver chemicals from a three-plant PPG facility pri-marily to the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. The major products of the plants, at Guayanilla, part cf a $150-million PPG chemicals project in Puerto Rico, will be ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride monomer, clorine and caustic soda. Scheduled for delivery in early 1971, the new ship will be an adaptation of Bethlehem's standard 37,OOO-deadweight-ton oil tanker design. It will have an overall length of 660 feet, breadth of 90 feet and depth of 48 feet 9 inches. Single-screw, geared steam-turbine propelling machinery will develop 15,000 shp and provide a service speed of better than 16 knots. Bethlehem's central control system will permit direct control from the bridge of ahead and astern power and speed. Many special chemical-carrying features will be provided for the transport of PPG's products, such as stainless steel construction for some of the cargo tanks. Other tanks will be insulated and provided with refrigeration. In addition to the Guayanilla complex, PPG is also building, in a joint venture with Common-wealth Oil Refining Company, Inc., an olefins plant near Penuelas. Both sites are on the south-ern coast of Puerto Rico. The Bethlehem Sparrows Point yard also has on order for Hendy International three petroleum tankers of 69,800-deadweight-tons. These also are scheduled for delivery in 1971. Albino Starts Work On First Waterman C-4 Conversion Conversion work, amounting to about $2,-420,000, has begun on the General Le Roy Etinge, C-4 troopship, for return to dry cargo service for Waterman Steamship Corporation. Removal of excess gear and drydocking for wheel and bottom work was completed the sec-ond week in March. Acceleration of the con-version work is expected to require 200 men per shift on a 2-shift basis for the Etinge and the General R. M. Blatchford, second ship, that is expected to arrive at the Swan Island ship-repair facilities of the Port of Portland where Albina Engine and Machine Works, Division of Dillingham, will carry out the conversion project. Handling C-4 conversion at Albina Engine and Machine Works are, left to right: Vice-President Herb Hansen and Capt E. L. Chapman, of Waterman Steamship Corpor-ation, and Harold Sipp, superintendent of Albina. Capt. E. L. Chapman will be hull superinten-dent for the Waterman Corporation under di-rection of their vice-president, Herb Hansen. Main conversion work will involve removal of top deck accommodations down to the main deck line and restoring the ship to cargo-han-dling capacity similar to original design. The midship house will be relocated near the stack, and some preparation for container-handling is being considered. The conversion work on the two vessels is expected to last some 8-months and the total cost figure of $4,840,000 for both vessels may be increased with additional work as the project moves towards completion. Man-ager of ship repair Dick Brewer and super-intendent Harold Sipp will supervise work for Albina. Tidewater Marine Acquires Hamer Hammer Services Hamer Hammer Services. Inc.. of Morgan City, La., has been acquired by Tidewater Ma-rine Service, Inc., New Orleans, in exchange for 48,000 shares of Tidewater Marine common stock. Announcement of the acquisition was made jointly by John P. Laborde, president of Tide-water Marine and Milton H. Hamer, president of Hamer Hammer. The two companies had announced "agreement in principle" to the ac-quisition December 30, 1968. Mr. Hamer will continue as president of the company, which will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tidewater Marine and no other changes of management or personnel are contemplated, said Mr. Laborde. Hamer Hammer leases diesel hammers and personnel for driving oil well casings. Tidewa-ter Marine, which operates a fleet of 400 ves-sels of all types in service to the offshore oil industry worldwide, has never previously been engaged in this type of work, said Mr. Laborde. He added that the capabilities of the Hamer firm will "complement Tidewater Marine's overall contribution to the inland and offshore oil and gas industry." ON THE SEA QMMS m SHIPS ARE SHIP-SHAPE WITH SEA-LAG.. . NEW, IMPROVED MARINE INSULATION LAGGING You're dollars ahead, both in cost and maintenance, when you specify "SEA-LAG" (Form-I-Glas Tape # 100), the superior marine lagging that's made with texturized glass fiber for 2-way stretch when apply-ing! The texturized fibers accommodate any movement of the in-place insulation and fluff a bridge for sizing or painting to a smooth finish that does not crack or slide. No health hazard. Meets all U. S. Navy specifications. I "See! It J Conforms 1 To Any I Shape" A PRODUCT OF INDUSTRIES, INC. POST OFFICE BOX 23221 ? NEW ORLEANS, LA. 70123 (504) 831-1707 See "REEF" First For: Hull Insulation / Boiler Coverings / Turbine Blankets / Pipe Coverings / Duct Insulation / Duct Linings / Jackets / Removable Fitting Covers / Asbestos Textiles / Glass Textiles / Adhesives / Accessories. 42 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News