Page 46: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 1973)

Ackerman, At GE Meeting, Says

American Shipbuilders Require

Continued Government Support

The chief executive officer of the nation's largest shipbuilder has urged businessmen to "let your legislator know" that the United

States must have a strong shipbuilding indus- try.

L.C. Ackerman, chairman of the board of

Newport News Shipbuilding, a Tenneco Com- pany, said that American shipbuilders "require continued Government support if commercial ships are 'to be built in the United States." Mr.

Ackerman made the comments at a recent meeting of General Electric marine and de- fense officials in Williamsburg.

He prefaced his comments by noting that

Newport News Shipbuilding has a backlog of more than one billion dollars in new naval nu- clear ship construction of carriers, frigates, and submarines. "Building ships for the Navy is still 'the most important task we have, and we expect to share in many important programs calling 'for construction of Navy ships in the future," he said.

Mr. Ackerman underscored the importance of the United States shipbuilding industry in view of the predicted "very serious energy shortage."

Citing Tenneco's position as a major sup- plier of energy, Mr. Ackerman said that even with progress in coal and petroleum gasifica- tion and increased use of nuclear energy and coal, these developments will not keep up with the nation's energy demands. He said that liquefied natural gas will be imported to its maximum potential and that liquid petroleum as an energy source is bound to increase dra- matically.

Many ships will be required to bring energy resources to this country, but Mr. Ackerman stressed the importance of building these ships in the United States. "The simple fact is that

United States shipbuilding needs support to be competitive in the world market."

Comparing shipbuilding as the assembling of a ship the way a car factory assembles the automobile, Mr. Ackerman pointed out that what happens to the shipbuilding industry is of extreme importance to other industries de- pendent upon it.

He also said that U.S. shipbuilders were not directly competitive in the world market be- cause they have not developed highly mechan- ized techniques such as those being used in

Japan where the volume of ship orders makes it possible to achieve the efficiency of series production.

Until U.S. shipyards have this kind of vol- ume, Mr. Ackerman called for some form of subsidy, either direct or indirect. "I believe that of all industries which may require some form of economic protection a good case can be made for protecting U.S. shipbuilding," he said. "This is particularly so if this country is going to re- ly on a large percentage of its energy being imported by ship. There are the national de- fense considerations, the balance of payments problem, and expecially the fact that shipbuild- ing involves many supporting industries," he said.

Drew Chemical Announces

New Marine Instrument Line

Drew Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of

United States Filter Corporation, has an- nounced the establishment of a new Marine

Instrumentation product line.

The Ameroid Marine Division will supply the instruments worldwide. Primarily devoted to measuring, monitoring and controlling the chemical characteristics of boiler and feed wa- ter, the initial employment will be concentrat- ed on existing Drew Water Treatment pro- grams.

The product range includes portable pH and conductivity meters and in-line analyzers for pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, hydrazine, chloride, ammonia and sodium.

The instruments have been specifically de- signed for marine application utilizing electro- chemical rather than photometric methods, thus avoiding motion problems.

The equipment can be combined in systems engineered to customer requirements.

For additional information, contact J. Bel- lew, Drew Chemical Corporation, 522 Fifth

Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10036.

A BOW FROM PERTH AMBOY: The barge Judson K.

Stickle, owned by the A & S Transportation Co., is shown with its new 120-ton metal bow which was constructed and attached by Perth Amboy Dry Dock Co., Perth Am- boy, N.J. The same yard has just completed a $1,000,000 overhaul and repair job on the USNS Albert J. Meyer.

Alfred C. Bruggermann, vice president, reports that 150 skilled shipyard workers are now engaged at Perth Amboy in making repairs to MSC (MSTS), Sup Ship 3 vessels, and all sizes of barges and tugs.

Around the clock, Turecamo's modern fleet of fast, pow- erful tugs stand ready to instantly provide you with the very best in towing services. Added to this are the years of invaluable ex- perience docking and undocking ships of all sizes and in every phase of towing operations.

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INC. 48 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News