February 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

SNAME Pacific Northwest Section Honors Members And Views 'Arctic Sealift Expedition, 1975'

More than 85 members and guests of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Pacific Northwest Section met at Craig's Olympia Oyster House in Seattle, Wash., on December 2, 1976 to view a film on Arctic marine freight operations. Prior to screening of the film, George H. Stebbins was presented a 50-year certificate of membership in the Society, and it was announced that Philip F. Spaulding had been elected a Fellow of the Society.

Mr. Stebbins, president of Lake Union Drydock Company in Seattle, was elected to membership in 1926. Even though he is beyond the normal age of retirement, he continues to work full time and remain active in the Society.

Mr. Spaulding, of Nickum, Spaulding and Associates in Seattle, is the first member of the Pacific Northwest Section to be honored as a Fellow. Fellowship is the highest class of professional membership and is reserved for individuals personally responsible for significant engineering, scientific or academic achievement in naval architecture, marine engineering, shipbuilding or ship operations.

The film "Arctic Sealift Expedition, 1975" was introduced by Charles Walther of Crowley Maritime. He explained that transportation of heavy construction supplies by sea does not normally bring to mind special problems.

However, when the proposed route is through waters that for the better part of a year are clogged with ice, the situation changes. This was the problem faced by Arctic Marine Freighters in 1975.

The task was to haul 160,000 tons of oilfield equipment and supplies to Alaska's North Slope. The prime contractor, Crowley Maritime through Arctic Marine Freighters, organized the tow of 47 barges through the worst Arctic ice conditions of this century.

After the film, Mr. Walther ran some raw film of their new icebreaking barge. The barge is 105 feet long, 90 feet wide and draws 12 feet forward, 10 feet aft. The tugs that push it draw 15 feet. The barge has made two trips in 24 days.

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