Page 58: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 15, 1969)

Fifth Containerliner In U.S. Lines' Program Launched By Sun Ship The American Lark, the fifth new full containerliner in the United States Lines' current, $105,000,000 new ship construction program, was launched on December 20, 1968 in the yard of the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Chester, Pa. The 32,000-ton container carrier was christened with the traditional bottle of champagne and sent down the ways into the Delaware River by Mrs. William S. Vaughan, wife of the chairman of the board of the Eastman Kodak Com-pany. Seventy-five percent completed at time of launching, the American Lark will be ready for her maiden voyage in mid-February. The new vessel is one of six, which are the largest and fastest full con-tainerliners ever built or ordered in this country or abroad. She is 700 feet 6 inches in length and 90 feet in breadth and has a cargo capacity of 1,335,000 cubic feet. Her streamlined hull, divided into eleven holds has an underdeck capacity of 658 twenty-foot containers which are carried in cellular stalls and tiered six high. Strongly reinforced hatch covers permit the stacking of another 552 containers three high and ten rows across on deck for a full-ship total of 1,210 twenty-foot containers. A mix of 40-foot and 20-foot containers can also be carried. Recognizing that the movement of perishable cargoes is growing and will continue to expand with fast cargo handling and high-speed ocean crossings, the new ship will have plug-in deck facilities for 90 refrigerated containers. The American Lark will be follow-ed down the ways at Sun by the American Leader in February, com-pleting a six-ship, full containerliner program. Reflecting the company's complete commitment to the container concept of shipping, the United States Lines has applied to the Maritime Adminis-tration for construction differential subsidy for the building of six more full containerliners, similar to the American Lark. In addition, the com-pany has applied for aid in the recon-struction of its eight Mariner-class cargoliners as full containerliners. Grace Line Promotes Smith And Lesica Grace Line has announced two promotions in its labor relations staff: Ernest E. Smith has been named assistant to the vice-presi-dent, industrial relations, and Charles J. Lesica will succeed him as manager, marine labor relations. Mr. Smith, a Rutgers University graduate, joined Grace Line in 1943 and began his career sailing as a wartime purser. In 1965 after assignments in the purchasing de-partment where he was in charge of commissary maintenance and repair, he was transferred to the marine labor relations department to which he was appointed mana-ger in 1967. Mr. Lesica came to Grace Line in 1950 following service in the U.S. Army and three years in a partnership enterprise. He was assigned to the marine labor rela-tions department in 1966 after hold-:ng positions in the port purser's department, and as stevedoring cost analyst, warehouse manager, and finally, stevedore for the Santa Rosa-Santa Paula operation. He was named assistant manager of the marine labor relations depart-ment in March 1968. Wallace Unit Speeds Cutting Stainless Bars Cutting 3%-inch-diameter 17-4-ph forging grade stainless bars into short pieces can be time consum-ing. However, the approximately 11-square-inch cut was made time after time in an average of 52 sec-onds. This operation was performed by a Wallace 'Oscila-Modular' cutting unit series No. 1520. This unit can use either abrasive blades or metal wheels ranging in size from 18 inches to 34 inches in diameter. The oscillator has a basic 4-inch trav-erse, with the power feed being varied to suit the job. Cuts with a surface finish of 25 micro-inches or less can be readily obtained. For information on this unit, con-tact Wallace Supplies Mfg. Co., 1304 W. Diversey Parkway, Chi-cago, 111. 60614. SHIP REPAIR Dependable 24-Hour Service REPAIRS & CONVERSIONS TO ALL TYPES OF FLOATING EQUIPMENT 3 BERTHS at YARD Topside Repairs At Unloading Docks PORTABLE EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLETE REPAIRS BENDER Ship Repair, Inc. 265 S. Water Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602 1-205-433-3675 CABLE ADDRESS: BENSRI STAR PORTER® CONTAINER & GENERAL PURPOSE CRANE VERSATILE-FAST-EFFICIENT VERSATILE, because Starporter handles any cargo from the same berth-without re-reeving. It adapts to various cargo needs by using any of a wide range of standard or specialized quick-change attach-ments. FAST, because Starporter's high-speed straight-line operation plus greater capacity moves more tons per hour of container, pallet, unit or general cargo. EFFICIENT. Starporter is efficient because low per-ton handling cost along with faster ship turnaround pays-off in maximum use of crane and terminal fa-cilities for prompt return on investment. If you are interested in versatile, fast and efficient cargo handling, write or call today. STAR IRON Si STEEL CO. 326 Alexander Avenue/Tacoma, Washington/98421 Telephone (Area Code 206) 627-9131 East Coast Representative: Robert Moore Corporation 350 Main Street, Port Washington, N.Y. (zip code 1L050) (Area Code 516) 883-7660 Southeastern Representative: John Blake Engineering & Sales Co. P.O. Box 23541, New Orleans, La. (zip code 70123) (Area Code 504) 821-4051 Export: Brown I Sites Co., Inc. 233 Broadway, New York, N.Y. (zip code 10007) (Area Code 212) 349-3600 STARPORTER Container Cranes are also built by the following: Canada: Canada Iron Foundries, Limited, Western Bridge Division Japan: Kawasaki Electric 8i Machine Co., Ltd. Master Ship Repair Contracts With All Government Maritime Agencies _____ marine tank gage Proved design of the most accurate gage avail-able for use on tankers and low pressure barges. Permits consistent, accurate deck gaging of cargo compartments without loss of vapor. Addition of Synchro Transmitter provides high accuracy remote gaging. Complete information in Product Data Sheet 92014. 60 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News