Tanker Design Change Approved By MSB

The Maritime Subsidy Board (MSB) has approved a design change for four 35,000-dwt tankers built for Zapata Tankers, Inc.

The tankers, which were constructed by Todd Shipyards Corporation, San Pedro, Calif., are the Zapata Patriot, Zapata Ranger, Zapata Courier, and Zapata Rover. They were built with construction - differential subsidy (CDS) assistance and delivered on April 1, 1976, July 27, 1976, January 25, 1977, and January 28, 1977, respectively.

The change involved installation of equipment and components for an unattended engine room on each of the four tankers, which were the first diesel designs ever to receive CDS. The incorporation of this feature will decrease the total amount of operating- differential subsidy projected over the lives of the ships.

An unattended engine room will give engineers time to perform maintenance when they would have been standing watch, thereby reducing overtime. It will also reduce shore maintenance and downtime.

The MSB determined that the increased cost for the change ($297,216 for the Zapata Patriot, and $218,128 for each of the other three tankers) is a fair and reasonable cost and will be the basis for CDS participation. The total Maritime Administration share of the changes will be $408,521.

Other stories from September 15, 1977 issue

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