Page 4: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 15, 1983)

Upgraded Facilities Dedicated

At Newfoundland Dockyard

Recent aerial view of Newfoundland Dockyard shows (from top right) the Syncrolift ship elevator, the side-transfer table, and the three new repair berths. The graving dock shown, which was placed in service in 1926, will continue in use.

A major modernization and ex- pansion of ship repair facilities at the Newfoundland Dockyard in St.

John's was officially opened re- cently by Premier Brian Peck- ford. Begun in late 1981, the proj- ect was completed slightly ahead of schedule. The upgraded facili- ties will enable the yard, which is operated by Canadian National, to compete competitively in the ship repair market.

The C$30-million project was made possible through extensive financial participation by the Gov- ernment of Newfoundland and La- brador in the form of loan guar- antees and interest subsidies.

The modernization includes a

Syncrolift ship elevator, side transfer facility, and three repair berths as well as various ancillary

GIBBS & COX INC.

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NEWPORT NEWS, VA. 23605 804-380-5800 equipment, including a tower crane 147.6 feet high. An existing wharf was extended by 301.8 feet to pro- vide additional berthing space.

The Syncrolift marine elevator system, developed by Pearlson En- gineering Company of Miami, is recognized around the world as a fast, cost-effective way of drydock- ing small- and medium-sized ships.

The lift itself is a submersible platform, on which are mounted four heavy steel rails. To drydock a ship, a cradle matching the con- tours of the hull is assembled from prefabricated, reusable standard components. Both the keel blocks and support members are mounted on double-flanged steel wheels that rest and move on the rails. When the cradle is ready, the platform is submerged, the vessel is maneu- vered into position over the cradle, and the platform is hoisted by ca- bles driven by synchronized elec- tric motors, at a speed of 22 centi- meters (8.58 inches) per minute.

The lifting platform installed at the Newfoundland Dockyard is 283.8 feet long and 65.6 feet wide, capable of handling vessels up to 295 feet long overall and 4,000 tons displacement.

When the vessel has-been raised, the cradle is moved by a powerful tractor to the transfer table. This is also mounted on rails, at right angles to the lift platform. The ta- ble is then moved laterally until its surface tracks align with those of a vacant repair berth. The trac- tor is then used again to place the cradled vessel on the berth, and the lift and transfer table are free to move other vessels.

The three repair berths are each about 348 feet long, and together cover a total area of approxi- mately 75,000 square feet, con- structed of concrete deck on steel pilings. There are an additional 21,500 square feet of paved sur- rounding area.

The same concrete and steel construction was used for the wharf extension, which is about 302 feet long and 32.8 feet wide. The exist- ing 567.5-foot-long graving dock, which was placed in service in 1926, will continue to be used, pri- marily for larger vessels.

Comsat General Awarded $12.7-Million Navy Contract

For Satcom Services

Comsat General Corporation,

Washington, D.C., has been awarded a firm-fixed-price con- tract for continued tri-oceanic UHF

GAPFILLER satellite communica- tions services. The Naval Elec- tronic Systems Command, Wash- ington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

A HEART Of RUBBER!

Rubber-lined Cutless® bearings prevent premature damage ot propeller shafts.

Designed with a specially formulated BFGood- rich resilient rubber lining, Cutless® marine bearings cushion abrasive particles and roll them along the bearing surface to special "Water- wedge" grooves where they are picked up by flowing lubricant and washed away without damaged to the shaft or bearing.

Not true of hard-surfaced bearings.

When abrasives enter hard-surface bearings, the particles are held firmly against the shaft causing excessive wear and damage.

Stop expensive shaft maintenance and replacement, use resilient Cutless rubber marine bearings. Available world-wide from yards and marine stores in a full range of shaft diameters and load capacities.

Soft Rubber Groove

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NATIONAL ami INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS

P.O. Box 1415, AKRON, OHIO 44309 6 Write 271 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News