Todd-Seattle Sponsors Marine Diesel Seminar

Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle Division, recently sponsored the first international marine diesel engine seminar to be held on the West Coast. Four major diesel manufacturers made half-day presentations at the two-day conference that was attended by more than 150 persons representing more than 40 organizations. The seminar was held at Longacres Racetrack near Seattle, Wash.

Major representers were: M.A.N., Germany ; Sulzer Brothers, Switzerland; B & W, Denmark; and Colt Industries, U.S. The technical presentations were designed to share state-of-the-art technology and progress in marine diesels with the prestigious audience, a who's who of marine interests in the Northwest. In addition to the Coast Guard and Navy, other government agencies represented included the Military Sea-Lift Command, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington and Alaska State Ferries. Major commercial interests that attended included Sea-Land, Inc., American President Lines, Crowley Maritime, Lykes Brothers Steamship Co., and Chevron Shipping as well as representatives of the American Bureau of Shipping and of marine engineering firms. Four divisions of Todd Shipyards Corporation and the Todd corporate office were represented along with more than 20 persons from the Seattle Division.

The consensus of the presenters was that a trend is developing toward diesel power plants as major shipping firms take an extremely close look at vessel fuel consumption.

Prior to 1973, fuel efficiency was not a major concern with fuel amounting to 40 percent or less of operating costs. With fuel expenditures amounting to more than 60 percent of the operating budget and continuing to climb, shipowners are looking for ways to curtail costs. Recent studies show that of 72 ships ordered from U.S. yards in 1980, fifty-two are diesel powered. Approximately 70 U.S. ships are presently being considered for conversion to diesel power. One example that was given during the seminar was a tanker that converted to medium-speed diesels in 1978 achieved a $927,000 fuel savings in the first year.

According to the participants, diesel engines have exacting maintenance requirements that not all ship crews will be pre- pared to handle. With the increase in dieselpowered ships and required service for them, Todd announced it is preparing to meet these requirements.

Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle Division, is forming a diesel department, and recently agreements were signed with Sulzer Brothers and M.A.N./B & W Diesel authorizing Todd Seattle as their Northwest service representatives.

Todd has a highly trained team with specialized equipment to service and repair these engines. Key personnel have completed training at Sulzer Brothers, Inc., B & W, and at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Todd is running a continuing in-house diesel training school for classes of 20 machinists.

Todd has organized a traveling team that is ready to handle any problem that may require repairs in transit to other countries. This traveling crew recently completed a large emergency repair job at Ketchikan, Alaska. Eighteen men and all necessary tools were on the job within one day.

Todd to date has serviced and repaired both B & W and Sulzer slow-speed diesel engines for ships of German, British, Chinese, Singapore, and Liberian registry.