Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1988)

Laid-Up Tonnage Falls

To Record Low Level

According to Lloyd's Monthly

List of Laid-Up Vessels, the volume of laid-up tonnage recently fell to one of the lowest levels in modern shipping history. A total of 458 ships (10.52 dwt) were idle at the end of August. One of the key rea- sons for the decline is the continu- ing reactivation of large tankers, but improvement in market prospects for old dry cargo tonnage is also a factor.

Crandall Railway System

Again Proves Its

Versatility/Dependability

The docking of the U.S. Navy's

DDG-2 Adams on Atlantic Dry

Dock's new 4,000-ton Crandall dry- dock shows once again the versatili- ty of today's modern railway dry- dock.

To accommodate the locations and projections of the vessel's two sonar domes, the cradle had to be modified with the installation of a pit within its deck area to provide access for the after dome, while a gap was provided between the for- ward end of the main cradle and a detachable pony cradle to accom- modate the forward dome. The ves- sel was docked on 9-foot-high steel keel block towers to provide the nec- essary docking clearances. The cra- dle, being 60 feet between uprights, allowed the vessel to enter the dock between the 9-foot-high keel block towers and the retracted sliding bilge blocks to its predetermined forward docking position. Once reached, the vessel was centered in the dock and secured for ground- ing.

The ability of the cradle to be modified easily to suit particular dockings proves once again that to- day's railway is still one of the most economical and secure means of drydocking and transferring vessels of up to 6,000 tons displacement.

For further information and free literature on railway and transfer systems from Crandall Dry Dock

Engineers, Inc.,

Circle 25 on Reader Service Card

Versatile Pacific Awarded $1.6-Million Contract For

Collision Damage Repairs

As a result of a collision between the Panamanian-registered 23,000- dwt bulk carrier Ocean Fame and the Soviet fish-factory vessel Ir- tyshsk, Versatile Pacific Shipyards of Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada, has been awarded contracts worth Can.$2 million (about $1.6 million) to carry out permanent re- pairs to both vessels.

For free literature giving com- plete information on the facilities and capabilities of Versatile Pacific

Shipyards,

Circle 41 on Reader Service Card

Marine Travelift Brochure

Describes Benefits Of BFM

Mobile Boat Hoist Design

Features of the beam forward de- sign on Marine Travelift mobile boat hoists are described in a new color brochure published by Marine

Travelift, Inc.

BFM features depicted in the lit- erature include the pivot trunnion that permits side frames to oscillate slightly on uneven terrain, neutral- izing structural stress buildup; the large-diameter, grooved hoist drums that provide uniform cable spooling; and the precise and independent hoist control at all four corners.

Also described in the folder are the built-in mechanical, anti-two- block system; fast, precise hydraulic sling adjustment; sling block "hang- er shaft" that rotates up to 15 degrees; direct alignment of hoist drums; unitized driving system; tires; the optional four-wheel drive system; low positioned, enclosed power system; maintenance free hoist sheave design with heavy load capacity roller bearings; optional jib boom controls; two-speed drive with hand controlled levers; and many more.

For more information and a free copy of the literature from Marine

Travelift,

Circle 77 on Reader Service Card

Circle 34 on Reader Service Card

November, 1988 49