Page 5: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 15, 1970)

78th Annual Meeting Of SNAME Shows

Marine Industry's

Technical Growth

ON THE COVER: Shown on the cover is the new

President and Administrative Officers of the Soci- ety of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, left to right: Robert G. Mende, Secretary, Daniel D.

Strohmeier, President-Elect, and Ralph C. Christen- sen. Treasurer.

The 78th Annual Meeting of The Society of

Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, held at the New York Hilton Hotel in mid-Novem- ber, brought together industrial, governmental and educational leaders in the marine industry.

James J. Henry, president of the Society, opened the meetings by presenting his annual address and report to the members. He said that the Society's membership is rapidly ap- proaching the 10,000 mark. He also advised that the finances of the Society are in excel- lent shape with investments holding up surpris- ingly well in the currently depressed market.

Speaking about the marine industry, Mr.

Henry said that "the past year has been a most important one for our industry and our coun- try with major events affecting naval construc- tion as well as the United States merchant ma- rine." With regard to the merchant marine he praised the actions of the national administra- tion in passing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, which provides outlays of more than three billion dollars over the next ten years for the construction of 300 merchant ships.

Urging support for this program, Mr. Henry said, "It appears that the ship owners' interest in new ships will tend towards large tankers, bulk carriers, and barge carriers. While more containerships are to be built, there will be few, if any more, dry-cargo liners constructed for United States ship operators. "It is essential that the new merchant ma- rine program be successful. Ships alone will not accomplish this objective. Providing suf- ficient cargo is a must. This will mean obtain- ing the confidence of shippers which can only be done by proving to them that their cargo will leave and arrive on time in good condition and on an assured schedule. To do this will require very close cooperation between man- agement and labor to prevent ship delays re- sulting from strikes. Both parties must have as their objective the development of a strong

Vice Adm. Arnold F. Schade, USN, commander, Eastern

Sea Frontier, delivering the principal address at banquet.

December 15, 1970

United States merchant marine, whose main purpose is to fully serve the shipper in a man- ner that will attract cargo away from foreign competitors."

Mr. Henry also put forward a suggestion for another program. In this regard he said, "The demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is in- creasing rapidly. This is the result of a short- age of fuel in the northeast sector of the

United States, as well as the antipollution drive. Large quantities of LNG are scheduled to be imported during the coming years which will require many large tankers capable of carrying methane in the liquid form. A great effort must be made to have some of these ships built in this country and operated under the American flag. "Rather than attempt to divert any funds scheduled for the types of ships now contem- plated to be built under the new 1970 Merchant

Marine Act, a new funding should be developed for such a ship program. Today, it is estimated that a 120,000-cubic-meter capacity LNG tank- er costs $50,000,000 if constructed in Europe.

A similar ship could be built for approximately $75,000,000 in this country. A construction subsidy for this difference can more than be justified as an investment which will pay off in taxes, fuller employment and assistance rendered towards a more favorable balance of trade."

Election of Officers

Daniel D. Strohmeier, vice-president, Beth- lehem Steel Corporation, Shipbuilding Divi- sion, was elected president of the Society dur- ing the business meeting. His two-year term in this widely recognized, prestigious office will commence January 1, 1971.

Mr. Strohmeier was graduated in 1932 from

Amherst College with a bachelor of arts degree and from Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology in 1934 with a bachelor of science de- gree in naval architecture. He has spent his entire business career with Bethlehem Steel

Corporation.

Mr. Strohmeier serves on the Board of

Trustees of Webb Institute of Naval Archi- (Continued on page 8)

Andrew E. Gibson, assistant secretary of commerce for

Maritime Affairs, spoke briefly at the annual banquet.

Daniel D. Strohmeier, president-elect of the Society, addressing members at the annual membership banquet.

Ludwig C. Hoffmann (left), assistant administrator for operations, Maritime Administration, receiving the "Da- vid W. Taylor Medal" from Society President James J.

Henry.

Andrew Neilson (left), chairman of the board, American

Bureau of Shipping, receiving the "Vice Admiral 'Jerry'

Land Medal" from Vice Adm. Land, USN (ret.).

James J. Henry, president of the Society and president of J.J. Henry Co., Inc., presiding at the annual banquet. 7