Page 59: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1973)

$5-Million Modernization Starts

At Dravo Neville Island Plant

Ground was (broken on October 9 as full-scale work began on a $5-million modernization of

Dravo Corporation's Neville Island Plant near

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Preliminary site preparation has already been finished for the project, the third major im- provement at the facility since 1965.

The company has spent $12.5 million in capi- tal improvements at the Neville Island Plant alone in the past eight years, increasing pro- duction to meet continuing high demand for its products—assemblies indoors for stacker- reclaimers, ship and barge unloaders, and spe- cialized equipment for the steel, mining and utility industries,

The firm's current backlog of business in these lines is approximately $100 million.

Employment has increased about 45 percent —from 950 to 1,400—at the Engineering Works

Division plaijt during the past 24 months.

Robert Dickey III (sitting at the controls), president of

Dravo Corporation, headed the team that broke ground as full-scale work began on the $5-million expansion of the company's Neville Island Plant.

Robert Dickey III, Dravo president, headed the groundbreaking team, which consisted of other Dravo executives and officials of Local

No. 61, Industrial Union of Marine and Ship- building Workers of America, AFL^CIO.

Mr. Dickey said current modernization, which focuses on Engineering Works' struc- tural shop, should reduce costs and further improve the company's position in the market- place.

He added that the expansion—which should be finished in October 1974—was "prompted by several factors."

Mr. Dickey said there should be "a continu- ing favorable market for marine equipment, although undoutedly there will be short-term 'downs' as well as 'ups.' To participate in this market substantially, we must be fully com- petitive. The new facility will also enable EWD to manufacture materials handling equipment and other products more effectively."

The 58,000-square-foot addition will house two 50-ton cranes providing a capability for lifts of 100-ton sections. There will be a clear- height of 50 feet between crane hook and floor.

This will be 18 feet higher than the existing facility. 'The project will involve relocating part of the yard railroad system.

The last two plant expansions, completed in 1966 and 1972, involved $7.5 million, and in- cluded an addition to the barge shop building and installation of new production equipment.

West European Conference On

Marine Technology To Be Held

May 14-18, 1974, In The Hague

The first West European Conference on Ma- rine Technology initiated by the Dutch,

French, German and British institutions of naval architects and marine engineers is to be held in The Hague, May 14-18, 1974.

The purpose of this conference is to demon- strate in a tangible way the advantages of a cooperative attitude between European insti- tutions of naval architects and marine engi- neers. Such a meeting will also provide a com- mon basis on which to present and discuss the progress of European maritime science and technology to the benefit of the shipbuilding industries concerned.

The central theme of the conference in 1974 is to be "The Future of West European Marine

Technology—Problems with Large Energy

Carriers."

Eight papers will be presented and discussed in two days covering important topics such as

VLCC ship-harbor design, LNG carriers and ports, ship handling and propulsion, marine and marine electrical engineering, the con- struction, hull strength and vibration of large energy carriers. Social and ladies' programs will be provided. The official conference lan- guage will be English.

For information on registration fees, pre- prints of papers, accommodations, transporta- tion, etc., write to The Royal Institution of

Naval Architects, 10 Upper Belgrave Street,

London SW1X 8BQ.

New Executive Appointments

At Communication Associates

At the annual directors' meeting of Commu- nication Associates, Inc., Donald J.S. Merten, president of the Huntington Station, N.Y., manufacturer of marine and ayiation commu- nications equipment, announced the appoint- ments of three new vice presidents and two new members of the board of directors.

Designated vice president for finance was

John Bredin. Mr. Bredin, who has been with

CAI since 1971, has served as the company's comptroller.

The post of vice president for operations has been assigned to Loring Sahud, formerly the company's manager of operations. He has been a CAI employee since 1963.

Gerald Gutman is CAI's new vice president for marketing. With the company since 1963, he had been sales manager.

The new directors are Tom Beltrani, manager of production engineering at CAI, and Mrs.

Patricia Brack, wife of the company's executive vice president and director of engineering

Werner Brack. ^Pl 1 "V/MT^to UNUSUAL A/BovrA 'fflW'?"

Applications are invited for the post of

GENERAL MANAGER for

Marystown Shipyard Limited

Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada

The Shipyard is six years old. It is owned and operated as a Crown Company and employs near- ly four hundred men. Presently four trawlers per year are being constructed in large, well equipped heated sheds. A considerable amount of repair work; hull, electrical and machinery'is carried out.

The facility includes a synchrolift, transfer system and nine hundred feet of repair and outfitting wharfs.

Additions are being constructed to enable six trawlers per year to be built and extra repair work undertaken with the number of employees increased to about five hundred.

The Shipyard has a first class reputation, enjoys good management labour relations, is competitive and has a good order book.

The present General Manager is approaching seventy and wishes to retire before the end of the year.

Experience in shipbuilding, shiprepairing and/ or marine engineering would be an advantage, but the post would suit someone with managerial experience, possibly in an engineering or manu- facturing unit.

Applications and/or requests for information in confidence to:

Honourable C. William Doody

Minister of Industrial Development

Government of Newfoundland & Labrador

Philip Place

St. John's, Newfoundland

MARINE

TERMINAL

SPECIALIST

Foreign Service

Graduate Engineer required with minimum 5 years experience in design and technical services on oil terminal facilities. Single buoy moorings, swivels and all hoses. Also background in fixed berths, loading arms and gen- eral port facilities.

Good schools, hospitals, commu- nity and recreational facilities similar to any small community in the U.S.A. All inclusive bene- fit plans. Opportunities for sub- stantial savings and extensive travel due to liberal vacations.

Send resume outlining education, work experience and personal his- tory to:

Employment Supervisor

ARABIAN

AMERICAN

OIL COMPANY 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS

NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10019

An Equal Opportunity Employer

November 1, 1973 63