Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 15, 1969)

Gilbride Tells Navy League Of U.S. Shipyards' Potentials In a speech in Washington, D.C., J. T. Gil-bride, president of Todd Shipyards Corporation, said that U.S. yards could respond effectively to any demand for new ships. Mr. Gilbride was a panelist at the Navy League 67th annual conven-tion, held in the Sheraton Park Hotel. The sub-ject of the panel was "Oceanic Doctrine?A Na-tional Need for Free World Maritime Leader-ship." The Todd executive said his industry could ad-just or expand operations and facilities to handle much higher levels of shipbuilding activity. He assailed industry critics who favor construction of some U.S.-flag merchant ships in foreign yards. Remarking that the shipbuilding industry is spending $100-million per year to increase ca-pacity, improve productivity and reduce costs, Mr. Gilbride said that the yards could perform as they did in World War II when phenomenal rec-ords were achieved. Last year two existing U.S. yards doubled their capacity and next year two new yards will begin operating, all predicated on the anticipation of an increase in production. Mr. Gilbride cited containerization as a cur-rent demonstration of the ability of U.S. ship-yards. He said that American ship operators now lead the world in the exciting containership field, and that ships for such operations were either built or converted in private American shipyards. Todd's president stressed that what is needed at the present time is, "... a clear and simple declaration of national intent. Once our federal government says that it intends to recapture its power at sea?and translates this policy into a wise and sensible long-range, stable shipbuilding program . . ." the American yards will be able to respond effectively. Mr. Gilbride stated that both the labor and management arms of the in-dustry are working to focus national attention on the contribution of seapower to the nation's mili-tary and economic welfare. He spoke of building 50 or more merchant ships per year in American yards as part of a long-range reconstruction pro-gram. The Todd official likened the seapower issue to the race for space. He said that when the Rus-sians placed their first satellite in orbit, Amer-ican industry, ingenuity and government rallied to the cause. He implied the Soviet advances at sea are more threatening, and should guarantee a high priority for reconstruction of U.S. seapower. Mr. Gilbride said that there has never been the suggestion that any of our space vehicles should be built in foreign countries. He said that, "The same kind of attitude, determined policy, ration-ale and implementation could achieve the same beneficial results in respect to a reconstruction of U.S. seapower." Bird-Johnson Elects Truex And Wicks Company Officers Robert D. Truex John G. Wicks Howard H. Scott, president of Bird-Johnson Company, of Walpole, Mass., recently an-nounced the election of two new officers of the firm. Robert D. Truex was named treasurer. He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, and has spent the past 10 years in the marine industry in plan-ning, engineering, estimating, project coordi-nation, and contracting functions. John G. Wicks has been named as assistant treasurer, and will serve under Mr. Truex. He is a graduate of Babson Institute, and has spent the past nine years in cost accounting, accounting supervision, and as a general ac-countant. He has been with Bird-Johnson Company for three years. Bird-Johnson Company manufactures Ka-MeWa controllable-pitch propellers and bow thrusters. They have recently added the fam-ous Hagglunds hydraulic motor to their prod-uct line. Raytheon Names Cuthbertson Customer Service Supervisor Marine Products Operation William Cuthbertson has been named cus-tomer service supervisor for Raytheon Com-pany's Marine Products Operation, South San Francisco, Calif. He joined Raytheon in 1964 and has served as supervisor of the replacement parts depart-ment. For 20 years prior to that he held vari-ous posts at the Air Ministry in London and in the supply organization of the Royal Air Force. A native of Glasgow, Mr. Cuthbertson at-tended Creighton School, Carlisle, England and graduated from Tully House College in Carlisle. Maritime Reporter/Engineering News THIS TUG HAS PULL... If ever a tug had pull, this one does. Made to take it, powered by two 500 HP Diesel Engines, this tug was delivered to Hawaii to maneuver ocean liners for Matson Navigation. Every piece of her was made to last. 65' x 20' x 10'6" and every inch a champion. Call on the master builders at ZIGLER SHIPYARDS to supply you with a tug that has pull. They never fail. Ask Zigler to send you a brochure. ZIGLER SHIPYARDS, INC. P. O. BOX 492, JENNINGS, LOUISIANA 70546, PHONE 318/824-2210 (LOCATED FIVE MILES EAST OF JENNINGS ON THF. MERMENTAU RIVER AT HIGHWAY 90) 28