Marine Executives Visit University To Review Class Project On Construction Of Towboats

With the Spring Class of Mississippi State University, well over 50 graduates of the Marine Engineering Technology Curriculum will enter the growing shipbuilding industry in the South. Each year, thus far, the senior class has worked on a project which is directed toward a topical situation and is designed to relate the various aspects of the course material into a harmonious package.

This also prepares them for industry by providing an opportunity to work together as a group toward a common goal.

The term project this year was to develop the details of a shipbuilding facility suitable for the construction of a large number of towboats using common building blocks.

Southern shipyards are highly successful in this market. The class was also asked to study the ways in which a typical vessel might be modified for easier production.

While the subject related to small craft, the principles apply equally to larger vessels.

A number of the seniors visited shipyards in their free time to gain an insight into the problems the project presented. The basic structural plans for their project were supplied by Brent Towing Co., Mississippi Marine Towboat Co., and Mainstream Shipyard Supply, all of Greenville, Miss.

Their efforts culminated in a day-long presentation to industry representatives on the Mississippi State University Campus.

The seniors distributed copies of their production plans to the visitors and made recommendations about their design modification.

Other project-day activities included a presentation of the American Bureau of Shipping Award to Stephen L. Cherry of Corinth, Miss., a luncheon hosting the shipyard representatives and special guests, and a panel discussion.

The panel, which was made up of representatives from shipbuilding and related companies, held a discussion on "Inland and Coastal Waterway Trends." Topics discussed were Future Trends in Waterway and River Systems vs. Rail and Truck, Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, 111., Trends in Types of Towboats and Barges, Trends in Shipyard Facilities, and Financing Improved Facilities. Members of the panel included Edwin Lea Brent, Brent Towing Co., Inc. of Greenville; Ian C.

Douthwaite, Dravo Corporation of the Pittsburgh, Pa., area; Merle L. Harbourt, American Waterways Operators, Inc. of Washington, D.C.; Fredrick Y. Martin, Equitable Equipment Co. of New Orleans, La., and Gary Rook, American Gulf Shipbuilding Corp. of Larose, La.

Also attending from industry were: Richard C. Bloom, field construction representative for the U.S. Department of Commerce Maritime Administration, New Orleans; J.O.

Bowden, chief naval architect of Zapata Technical Services Corporation, Houston, Texas; Donald L. Frisby, manager-Houston Markets for Armco Steel Corp., Houston; Ralph E. Hagood, personnel manager for Marathon LeTourneau Company, Brownsville, Texas; Robert M. Johnson from Alabama Ship & Dry Dock Co., Mobile, Ala.; Clyde M. Leavitt, naval architect, marine consultant, marine surveyor and professional engineer, Pascagoula, Miss.; Robert L.

Leeper, district sales representative, Armco Steel Corp., Jackson, Miss.; Vernon K.

McAllister from Exxon Corp.; John D.

McCubbin, assistant to the vice president of McDermott shipyard, Morgan City, La.; Joseph K. Miller, principal surveyor for the American Bureau of Shipping, New Orleans; E.T. Motter, manager of the engineering department of Jacksonville Shipyards, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.; Michael H. Parker, naval architect for Avondale, New Orleans; Nicholas Petronio, construction superintendent for Marathon LeTourneau Company; Sigmund A. Solares, production systems manager f o r Avondale Shipyards, Inc., and Warren E.

Wilson, Bender Welding and Machine Co., Inc., Mobile.