July 1981

Table of Contents

1. Shipboard Automation & Monitoring Systems

   A special report surveying major manufacturers and distributors of marine monitoring and automation equipment, presenting the latest products from Alnor, Autronica, General Electric, Henschel, Hyde, Magnavox, Marcon, Megasystems, Metritape, National Marine Service, Pan American Systems, Rochester Instrument, Smith-Meeker, Solidstate Controls, Sperry and Wager.

   p. 22

2. U.S. Maritime Industry's Safety Excellence Cited At Award Ceremony

   Thirty-one U.S. maritime industry operations were cited for safety achievements at the Annual Ship Safety Awards Luncheon co-sponsored by the American Institute of Merchant Shipping and the Marine Section of the National Safety Council, including the barge Interstate 55 with 2,795 accident-free days.

   p. 42

3. M/T Portland — Unusual 360° Steerable Z-Drive Tug Enters Service

   Shaver Transportation Company took delivery of the Portland, a ship handling tug built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders with two Maritime Industries 1,700-bhp 360-degree steerable Z-drives arranged in a "reverse tractor" configuration developed jointly by Maritime and Shaver.

   p. 16

4. Report Available Comparing Qualities Of Synthetic Ropes

   Samson Ocean Systems prepared a technical report for the Offshore Technology Conference summarizing systematic tests of strength, elongation and energy absorption comparing double-braided and eight-strand plaited nylon ropes.

   p. 21

5. Marathon Introduces New Super 300 Jackup For Harsh Environments

   Marathon Manufacturing introduced the Super 300 self-elevating drilling platform at the 1981 Offshore Technology Conference, engineered to survive 60-foot waves and 100-knot winds in 300 feet of water with both cantilever and slot drilling capability.

   p. 12

6. Bulk Carrier 'Pride Of Texas' Delivered By Levingston Shipbuilding

   Levingston Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas, delivered the 36,000-ton bulk carrier Pride of Texas to Asco-Falcon Shipping Company, the first dry bulk carrier built in the U.S. specifically for U.S. foreign trade and the first built with construction differential subsidy.

   p. 38

7. Los Angeles SNAME Discussed Single-Point Mooring Technology

   The final 1980-81 meeting of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Section of SNAME, held aboard the Princess Louise, introduced new officers and heard the paper "OTEC-1 Mooring" by Harold Ramsden and William Watts of Global Marine.

   p. 18

8. Newest Bulkfleet Marine Tug Is Powered By MaK Diesels

   McDermott Shipyards' Morgan City Division completed the 140-foot twin-screw tug Valiant for Bulkfleet Marine Corporation, the largest U.S.-built tugboat to run on heavy fuel oil, which will push the 28,000-dwt barge Bulkfleet Pennsylvania under contract to Gulf Oil.

   p. 66

9. Paper On Real Time Monitoring Presented At Pacific Northwest SNAME

   At its spring meeting in Victoria, B.C., the Pacific Northwest Section of SNAME heard papers on real time motion monitoring aboard the barge Foss 245 and on the selection and design of hydraulic systems including arctic operation.

   p. 12

10. Dome Petroleum Orders Drill Rig From Cammell Laird Yard

    Dome Petroleum ordered a GVA 4000 semisubmersible drilling rig from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, to be built under license from Gotaverken Arendal for drilling north of the Shetland Islands under charter to Sovereign Co.

    p. 51