Page 12: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 15, 1973)

The World s Largest Tuna Purse Seiner

The Margaret L

WORLD'S LARGEST tuna purse seiner on trials off Sturgeon Bay where the ship was built. This U.S. designed and built fishing vessel will have an influence on all future vessels of this type because of the advanced design features incorporated for efficiency.

The world's largest tuna purse seiner, the Margaret L, recently joined the American tuna fleet. The

Margaret L was designed by Rados

Western Corporation and built by

Peterson Builders, Inc. of Sturgeon

Bay, Wis. This fishing vessel was launched last summer, at which time she was christened by the owner's wife, Mrs. Andrew J. Lo- co co.

The construction schedule and delivery date were planned so that the vessel would leave the Great

Lakes just before the close of the navigation season. It also allowed the Margaret L to sail to the South

Pacific in time for the opening of the tuna-fishing season in that area. The owner plans to deliver the probable 2,000-ton catch to

Puerto Rico, where the vessel is registered. After the Pacific season closes, the ship will fish in Puerto

Rican waters and African waters.

The Margaret L is the raised- deck type of purse seiner with a steel hull and an aluminum super- structure. The hull below the main deck is subdivided by six struc- tural, watertight bulkheads. The hull above the waterline is painted a brilliant red, whereas the super- structure is painted white. There is a helicopter platform on the for- ward deck. An array of boat and brailing booms are appendaged from the kingpost. On top of the superstructure stands an air-foil- shaped lookout mast, topped with a crow's nest.

The main-propulsion machinery consists of two Fairbanks-Morse turbocharged, non - reversing, 12 - cylinder diesel engines. Each en- gine drives an Avondale Ship- yards' four-bladed propeller, each having a diameter of 122 inches, through a 3.97:1 Western Gear

Model 360 PCMR reduction gear.

The engines are air started and freshwater cooled by external type skin coolers. Engine speed and di- rection are controlled from three stations by a Westinghouse Air

Brake Company control system.

This system is designed to apply compressed air to the respective shaft brakes when the single lever for either engine is placed in the neutral position. The engines are fitted with Wichita pneumatic clutches.

The ship's electric power is pro- vided by two 400-kw Caterpillar

D379 diesel-generator sets. These also are air started and freshwater cooled. Auxiliary power is provid- ed by a 250-kw Caterpillar D343-

TA diesel-generator set, which is hydraulic started and freshwater cooled. These units were supplied by Shepard Marine.

Other engine room equipment includes Riley-Beaird, Inc. evapor- ators, DeLaval Separator Company fuel and lubricating oil purifiers,

Federal Pacific Electric Company switchboards, and Vilters Manu- facturing Corp.'s refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. The (Continued on page 17)

The owner's stateroom is one of the most luxurious accommodations provided on any ship. The furniture and paneling are black walnut with appropriate matching colors.

The wheelhouse of the Margaret L is outfitted with the most modern equipment. The decor, while simple, provides a pleasant work area, together with easy maintenance. 14 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News