Page 52: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 15, 1973)

About 30 days from now, this sheet of steel will be hauling grain.

There's a launching a day at Jeffboat.

And every vessel we build starts out here on our 15-ton magnetic crane. It's a workhorse that does everything from unloading steel to servicing the plate yard. And it's here that a sheet of steel begins its journey into inland shipbuild- ing's only automated steel-handling facility.

Before a steel plate or structural member goes into a vessel it can be given special treatment. On special order we shotblast the steel clean, re- moving all traces of rust and mill scale.

Then we apply a pre-construction primer to the metal prior to fabrication and erection of the vessel. The result: extended barge life for increased pro- ductivity and profitability.

Our automated steel-handling facility is one of the reasons we think Jeffboat is best qualified to help with your waterways equipment requirements.

Jeffboat, Division of Texas Gas Trans- mission Corp., Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130. (812) 283-3551.

America's largest inland shipbuilder. 54 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News