Page 52: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1981)

The Energy Freedom coal barge was christened by officials of New

England Electric System during ceremonies at Bay Shipbuilding

Corp. in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

The Energy Freedom is a deep- notch tug barge built by Bay

Shipbuilding Corp. to carry do- mestic coal from ports along the

Eastern Seaboard to New Eng- land Electric's generating sta- tions in southern New England.

The barge will be owned and op- erated by Universal American

Shipping Corporation of Green- wich, Conn. "We chose the name Energy

Freedom for this barge because it represents New England Elec- tric's continuing goal to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Our corporate plan, NEESPLAN, is reducing our oil reliances from 79 percent in 1979 to less than 30 percent by the end of this likaMkMi year, and to less than 10 percent foreign oil in our mix by 1985.

The Energy Freedom will con- tribute to this goal and is a vital link in our plan for independ- ence, "said Guy W. Nichols, chair- man of New England Electric.

New England Electric has char- tered the barge from Universal

American Shipping Corporation to carry coal from the ports of

Hampton Roads, Baltimore and

Philadelphia to its Brayton Point

Station in Somerset, Mass., and

Salem Harbor Station in Salem,

Mass. "The barge will make its first coal delivery to our plants in New

England in early September.

Every eight days thereafter, it will deliver 34,000 net tons of coal to our generating stations.

In its first year of service, the coal it will carry will displace five million barrels of oil which will save our customers an esti-

MilNIJ% -amUBiT*" mated $50 million on their elec- tric bills," Mr. Nichols reported.

The Brayton Point generating station is currently undergoing a $180-million conversion from oil burning to coal burning. Two of the generating units at the plant already are burning coal and a third unit will be converted to coal burning by the end of 1981.

When fully converted, coal burn- ing at the station will save 12 million barrels of oil per year and approximately $169 million for the customers of New England

Electric's retail companies.

New England Electric also plans to convert three generating units from oil burning to coal burning at its Salem Harbor Sta- tion. When the conversion is com- plete by 1985, it is expected to save $54 million in fuel costs for customers and three million bar- rels of oil per year.

Together, the two plants will burn 3.7 million tons of coal per year.

Mr. Nichols praised the coop- eration of the builder of the barge, Bay Shipbuilding Corp., a subsidiary of The Manitowoc

Company, Inc., for the speed and the quality of their construction efforts. Bay Shipbuilding de- signed, engineered and built the

Energy Freedom in the record time of nine months from date of contract commitment. The En- ergy Freedom is the third of five ocean carriers recently contracted to be built by Bay Shipbuilding

Corp. for various customers.

The barge has an overall length of 550 feet, beam of 78 feet, a total hold capacity of 1.5 million cubic feet, and a summer dead- weight of 33,700 tons. The 7,200 brake horsepower tug Gulf Maj- esty will push the barge from a 60-foot stern notch at an esti- mated speed fully loaded of 10.4 knots.

Burton Shipyard Inc.

Names Three Officers

As a part of a complete reorga- nization, Burton Shipyard, Inc.,

Port Arthur, Texas, recently an- nounced the following appoint- ments: Gene M. Woodfin, chair- man of the board and chief exec- utive officer; Nathan M. Smythe, president and chief operating of- ficer; and Ronnie Moerbe, vice president and general manager.

Gene M. Woodfin

Mr. Woodfin, an attorney, re- tired in January 1981 from Mar- athon Manufacturing Co. as chair- man of the board and chief exec- utive officer.

Nathan M. Smythe

Mr. Smythe started his marine career at Newport News Ship- building and Dry Dock Co. in 1941. Following Newport News he worked at Higgins Industries,

Avondale Shipyards, Ingalls Ship- building Division, Litton Indus- tries, Equitable Shipyards, Inc., and Alabama Drydock and Ship- building Co.

Mr. Moerbe was chief estima- tor and chief engineer at Burton prior to his latest promotion.

Ronnie Moerbe

Burton Shipyard, Inc. has spe- cialized in the offshore supply- tug type vessels, having delivered more than 100 vessels of this type to the trade. Currently, Bur- ton is engaged in the construction of seven tuna purse seiners for

Van Camp Sea Foods of San

Diego, Calif. One hull has been delivered, with another sched- uled for delivery Oct. 1, 1981.

In attendance at the christening of Energy Freedom, from left: George K. Geiger, president, Bay Shipbuilding Corp., and his wife, Carol; Mrs. Joan T. BoK, vice chair- man of New England Electric System, vessel sponsor; Karl L. Meyer, president,

Universal American Shipping Corporation, and his wife, Judy; and Guy W. Nichols, chairman, New England Electric System. rendition of the Energy Freedom and the M/V Gulf Majesty.

Energy Freedom Christened

At Bay Shipbuilding Corp.

Artist's renditio 54 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News