Page 38: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1998)

GULF COAST REPORT because of the strain imposed on the inland- 77-year-old lock showed its age in its first dewa- each locking. The project's $6 million included $4 million for dewatering and regi repairs. The reminder was for design, coord) tion and emergency repair. Equipment i brought in from as far away as the Corps' R

Island (111.) District, which lent one of two c rick barges employed.

Ingalls Flexes Commercial Am

With considerable Navy construction still its way, Ingalls' latest commercial deal (fo multipurpose jackup boats for Searex) com less than a year after it won a major coup on tl

Gulf by taking a $152 million order from Edist

Chouest Offshore for the construction of up 36 deepwater OSVs.

According to Ingalls vice-president of publ: and industrial relations, D.F. Knecht, thes boats are being popped out at the rate of one month, with several already delivered.

Although Ingalls has always been a stronj

Navy builder over its history, commercial con struction has certainly not been left out. During

World War II, in its original facilities on the east bank of the Pascagoula River, Ingalls pro- duced troop ships for the Navy, as well as escort aircraft carriers, submarine tenders and net layers.

After the war, Ingalls built amphibious assault ships, destroyers and, beginning in the 1950s, attack submarines, but in the late 1950s it also launched significant commercial passen- ger tonnage, including twins Brazil and

Argentina for Moore McCormack Line and more utilitarian Atlantic for American Banner

Lines.

The latter, a tourist class ship, was convert- ed out of old C4 freighter Badger Mariner.

In addition, Ingalls finished three passenger- carrying freighters for Delta Lines, Del Mar,

Del Norte and Del Sur.

By working closely with computer designers and manufacturers, Ingalls has developed an advanced, proficient three-dimensional comput- er-aided design (CAD) system for the shipbuild- ing/marine production industry. The design process for ships built at Ingalls is accom- plished using a CAD system, which is linked with an integrated computer-aided manufac- turing (CAM) production network of host-based computers and localized minicomputers located through the shipyard.

Because of these investments in new tech- nology, Ingalls has emerged as the leading designer and builder of five of the U.S. Navy's newest classes of surface combatants, including

Spruance and Kidd class destroyers, Tarawa and Wasp class amphibious assault ships, and

Ticonderoga class Aegis missile cruisers. In addition to the Wasp class, Ingalls is one of two domestic shipyards currently building Arleigh

Burke class Aegis guided missile destroyers.

These 505 ft., 8,850 displacement ton ships are powered by four gas turbine jet engines that can drive the vessels in speeds in excess of 30 knots. waterway industry by a 60-day closure," said

Col. William L. Conner, district engineer of the New Orleans District.

More than 60 members of the district's

Operations Division, drawn in from all across south Louisiana, worked 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts.

The project began July 27, so most of the work was done in the worst of the summer's heat at the bottom of a 55-ft. deep chamber. The tering and major overhaul in 20 years. Concrete was replaced in portions of the 640 x 75 ft. chamber, and in four of the eight valves used to drain and fill it.

Six of the lock's 10 gates, built around 1920, were removed for sandblasting and replace- ment of weak spots in their 250-ton steel struc- tures.

New seals were installed, as were pintles, the supports upon which the gates pivot for

For centuries, sailors found stars to guide them. Now, the "stars can find you!

Navigational technology has moved ahead at a remarkable pace, and on the leading edge, you'll find PinPoint Systems from

WATERCOM. Utilizing

PinPoint satellite-based

DGPS, for example, you can locate your craft instantly, update its position once a second, and automatically display it on the correct chart.

Unique charting software, radar overlay technology, 3-D bathymetrics, and complete engine monitoring systems are available individually or as an integrated bridge package. Easy point-and- click route creation and the ability to store electronic past voyages are further benefits. It's a total package for the ultimate in safety, simplicity and efficiency.

We've come a long way from navigating by the stars, but we still set our performance standards sky high. For more information on cutting edge PinPoint technology, call WATERCOM today at 1-800-752-3000.

WATERCOM is an authorized sales, service and technical support provider for

Pll [?OJj TT TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR VESSELS AND SHORE. 453 East Park Place • Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130

Circle 363 on Reader Service Card

STRONGER REPAIRS FASTER, EASIER

Unique epoxy resin system bonds to almost anything—produces proven, long lasting repairs with outstanding impact strength, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance • Repairs everything from pinholes and ruptures to complete breaks in pipes, pumps, ducts, tanks, valves, flanges, joints, and machinery casings, including equipment carrying water, low-pressure steam, gases, gasoline, oil, alcohol, and caustics • Bonds tenaciously to most surfaces including steel, plastic, fiberglass composites, ceramic, and wood cordobonp f HIGH STRENGTH ^XY REPAIR SYSTEM

ISO9002

STANDARD RESIN for small holes/cracks (large holes/cracks with fiberglass reinforcement)

RED PUTTY for medium to large holes, cracks and other defects

STEEL PUTTY for steel-like repairs on metal —can be drilled, tapped, machined

SEALER for small holes and cracks

LEVELING COMPOUND to level corroded surfaces

For detailed literature contact:

Ferro Corporation

Liquid Coatings and Dispersions Division 1301 N. Flora St., Plymouth, IN 46563

Tel: 219-935-5131 • Fax: 219-935-5278 ® FERRO, 36 Circle 257 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News