Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 15, 1969)

ANCHOR, CHAIN & FORGE DIVISION British Petroleum Will Order 80,000-Dwt Tankers In U.S. The British Petroleum Co.'s (BP) annual report noted that the firm was going to place orders for two 80,000-dwt tankers in the United States. The report also announced that "for our activities in the United States, a considerable amount of U.S.-flag shipping will be required for the movement of oil from south Alaska to the U.S. mainland." BP, the report goes on, is also contributing $2-million to an experiment due to take place this summer in which the U.S. tanker Man-hattan, after undergoing suitable modification, will conduct ice trials in the arctic. The result will help to establish the practicability of movement through the Northwest Passage from north Alaska to the Atlantic. In his statement to the stockholders, BP's chairman Eric Drake stressed the company's progress in the United States as being of prime importance. "There has been two significant develop-ments," says Mr. Drake. "One is the discovery of oil in our Prudhoe Bay acreage in Alaska. This is an area of some 96,000 acres wholly owned and operated by our subsidiary company in the United States, BP Oil Corporation. As we have said it will be some time before the potential of the well can be assessed and our holdings in the area can be evaluated, but the news is en-couraging." "The other is our entry into the U.S. market on the eastern side of the country by the pur-chase of certain marketing and refining assets formerly owned by Sinclair Oil and Atlantic Richfield, and now held by BP Oil Corpo-ration." Mr. Drake goes on to explain that even if the evaluation of the find in Alaska confirms expectations it will be three years before the oil reaches the market. "For instance, a pipeline 800 miles long in which we have a share must be laid; a marine terminal must be constructed, and U.S.-built tankers must be obtained. In the meantime, we shall be consolidating and improving the interests we have taken over in the east, which include some 9,700 retail outlets, two large refineries, a share in a pipeline and many im-portant installations, the price of $400-million being payable over the years 1972 to 1977." Blount Marine To Build Puerto Rican Ferry Artist's conception of first of four 3,000-hp auto/pas-senger ferries for operation in the Caribbean area. Blount Marine Corporation, Warren, R.I., has announced the signing of a contract with Carib Star Line, Inc., of Santurce, Puerto Rico for the first of four 3,000-hp, 132-foot, auto/passenger ferries to operate in the Carib-bean area. Designed by Blount Marine, the 20-knot vessel will be propelled by four Blount POWR PODS (Trade Mark), two of the pods will contain twin contra-rotating propellers capable of absorbing 1,000 hp each and two will have single propellers and contain steering rudders. On inter-island runs without vehicles, the vessel will carry up to 500 passengers. The hull will be constructed of steel and the superstructure of aluminum alloy. Operations are scheduled to begin in Octo-ber. 1969. Norfolk Naval Shipyard Receives $20-Million Project The Navy has assigned a $20-million project to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth. Va., for alterations on and repairs to the air-craft carrier America (CVA-66). The work involved on this project is expected to take 10 months for completion. Newport News Shipbuilding built the Amer-ica in 1965; this is the first major overhaul job on this aircraft carrier. Martinolich Building Offshore Fishing Boat Peterson & Nes has contracted Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Wash., to build an offshore fishing vessel. To be equipped with a 585-bhp single diesel engine, it will have the following dimensions: 87 feet by 25 feet by 13 feet. Burton To Build Oil-Well Supply Boat Dearborn Marine, Inc., has contracted Bur-ton Shipyard, Inc., Port Arthur, Texas, to build an offshore oil-well supply boat. Desig-nated Hull No. 458, it will have the following dimensions: 165 feet by 38 feet by 13 feet and will be equipped with 1,700-total-blip diesel machinery. MAIN OFFICE AND PLANT P.O. BOX 350 CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA 19016 PHONE 215 TR 4 8461 LOP IN ANYTIME... anywhere In thi m fOR i. There's a Baldt Anchor 'ery type of anchoring media lanufactures a complete EST ANCHORS EN ALL ELSE ' HOLD! We offer them in a choice as vari-r requirements, backed by a 65 year record ? <& S *S AND ANCHOR CHAIN WEIGHTS?NEW, GOVERNMENT SUR-)VERNIGHT DELIVERY TO mm 12 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News