Nationwide Boiler Rentals, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., has been awarded a $1.9-million contract by the U.S. Navy to design and construct seven mobile boiler rooms. The systems, each consisting of two 5,000-pound-per-hour, 200-psi boilers, contain complete water-softening equipment, chemical feed systems, and fully automatic controls. Primary use of the systems will be to provide steam for electrical generators as well as hotel and other ships comfort services during extended, in-port stays and during scheduled boiler maintenance periods.
According to Richard Bliss, president of Nationwide, "The concept of using smaller mobile boilers to provide ships services while in port for extended stays is far more energy-efficient than keeping the large onboard boilers operating." The contract calls for acceptance and delivery of the first unit within 12 months, with the remaining six units to be delivered during the following year. The firm produced two similar systems for the Navy in 1978.