Maritime Reporter, February 1989

<BODY> <div> The recently christened USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195) at Avondale Shipyards Division, Avondale, La. Powered by a pair of Colt-Pielstick 10-cylinder diesel engines, she has a service speed of 20 knots. Avondale Christens U.S. Navy Fleet Oiler, USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195) The Shipyards Division of Avon- dale Industries, Inc., Avondale, La., recently christened the U.S. Navy's newest fleet oiler, the USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195). The USNS Leroy Grumman, like her sister ships in the T-AO-187 Class, is 677-1/2 feet long, has a beam of 97-1/2 feet, draft of 36 feet and displaces 40,700 tons. She is powered by two 10-cylinder PC4.2 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines manu- factured by the Fairbanks Morse Division of Colt Industries, Inc. Sponsoring the ship were the three daughters of the late Leroy Grumman, one of our nation's greatest industrialists and aircraft designers, and the man whom T-AO 195 honors. The sponsors were Marion Grumman Phillips, Florence Grumman Hold and Grace Grumman Nelson. Offi- cially representing Grumman Air- craft Engineering Corporation was Dr. Renso Caporali, vice chair- man, corporate technology. The principal speaker at the event was Representative Lindy Boggs, D-La., a longtime supporter of maritime interests. Other christening participants were: Albert L. Bossier Jr., chairman and CEO, Avondale In- dustries, Inc., Capt. E. L. Gibson, USN, Commander, Fast Sealift Squadron One; Vice Adm. Peter M. Hekman, USN, Commander, Na- val Sea Systems Command, Capt. Paul D. Hurst, USN Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Re- pair, New Orleans, and Michael P. Garvey, Chaplain Corp, United States Naval Reserve. The mission of the Grumman will be to transport bulk petroleum products from shore depots to Navy ships at sea. Designed to carry 180,000 barrels of fuel and 534 pal- lets of dry cargo stores, the Grum- man's at-sea delivery capability will enable Navy ships to operate for longer periods without returning to port for fuel and supplies. For further information on the shipbuilding services of Avondale Shipyards, Circle 14 on Reader Service Card Principals at the fleet oiler Leroy Grumman christening ceremony included (seated, L to R): Grace Grumman Nelson, sponsor; Lauren Catherine Kitchen, flower girl; Marion Grumman Phillips, sponsor; Nikki Lynn Berthelot, flower girl; Florence Grumman Hold, sponsor; and Arienne Dore Arnold, flower girl. Standing (L to R): Albert L. Bossier Jr., chairman and CEO, Avondale Industries, Inc.; Dr. Renso Caporali. vice chairman, corporate technology, Grum- man Aircraft Engineering Corporation; the Honorable Lindy Boggs, U.S. Representative, D-La.; Vice Adm. Peter M. Hekman Jr., USN, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; Capt. Paul D. Hurst, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, New Orleans; and Capt. E.L. Gibson, USN, Commander, Fast Sealift Squadron One. Trinity Marine Group Acquires Lockheed Shipbuilding Yard Deal Includes Transfer Of LCU Building Contract Trinity Industries, Inc., recently announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Halter Marine, Inc., has signed an agreement to purchase the shipbuilding business and certain assets of the Lockheed Shipbuilding Company in Thunderbolt, Ga., near Savannah. The transaction includes transfer of a contract with the U.S. Army Troop Support Command for the construction of twenty-three 174- foot Landing Craft Utility (LCU) ships. The Army holds options for 12 additional LCUs which could bring the total contract value to approximately $144 million. The Army has approved the transfer. The announcement was made by John Dane III, president of the Trinity Marine Group which oper- ates Trinity Industries shipyards. Mr. Dane said that, while no final decision has been made on transfer of work, some of the work would be done at Moss Point Marine, Esca- tawpa, Miss., because of facility constraints at the Thunderbolt shipyard. "This will have positive effects in Mississippi and Louisiana, " said Mr. Dane. "It will maintain em- ployment levels at Moss Point and stabilize employment at our Halter- Lockport, La., shipyard. Three 175- foot, 100-ton Army crane barges val- ued at a total of approximately $16 million, which were slated for Moss Point, will now be built at Lock- port. The Georgia facility will be re- named Thunderbolt Shipbuilding and Repair, Inc. Dan Sentilles has been named the manager of the yard. "As the new name indicates, we are expanding the service and prod- uct mix of Thunderbolt. The ship- yard will continue to build compo- nents for the LCUs and we are already bidding on overhaul and repair work for the facility," said Mr. Dane. The purchase of the Thunderbolt facility is the second major acquisi- tion the Trinity Marine Group has made in recent months. Late last year, the group purchased the Crown Point, La., yard of Alumi- num Boats, Inc. In addition to the new Thunder- bolt yard and Aluminum Boats, Inc., facility, the Trinity Marine Group includes four other ship- building companies and six other shipyards in Louisiana and Missis- sippi. For free literature detailing the shipbuilding, ship-repairing and conversion services of the Trinity Marine Group, Circle 18 on Reader Service Card Corps Of Engineers To Repower Aluminum Surface Effect Ship The U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers, acting as contracting authori- ty for the U.S. Navy, intends to repower the David Taylor Research Center's SES-200, an existing 160- foot aluminum surface effect ship using a government-furnished pro- pulsion system. As part of this ef- fort, the vessel's conventional fixed- pitch propulsion system will be re- placed with a waterjet propulsion system. Because of machinery system configuration and weight growth, the vessel's hull lines will be modi- fied and a large blister integrated into the side hulls. The acquisition is identified as M DC Project 2211. The Request For Proposal, including detailed plans and specifi- cations will be available after March 1, 1989, by contacting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, Custom House, 2nd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, Attn: CENAP-CT. Colonna's Begins Repair Of U.S. Navy Frigate Under $3-Million Contract Colonna's Shipyard, Norfolk, Va., has begun work on a $3.05-million Navy contract for repairs to the fri- gate USS Donald B. Beary (FF- 1085). The USS Donald B. Beary was docked in early December, and the work is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month. She is the first frigate to be docked in Colon- na's floating drydock. The contract calls for hull repairs, sandblasting and coating, boiler re- pairs, electronics and weapons re- pair and installation, CHT modifi- cations, installation of a Halon fire- fighting system, modifications to the fin stabilizers and miscellaneous deck machinery repairs. Colonna's Shipyard, founded in 1875, is a family-owned, full-service shipyard with facilities to provide ship repairs for government and commercial vessels up to 800 feet. Plant facilities include a 17,200-ton- steel floating drydock, three marine railways and complete shop and pier facilities. For free literature detailing the ship-repairing facilities and services of Colonna's, Circle 34 on Reader Service Card Recent Ship Repair Work At Colonna's Shipyard Vessel Work USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085) DSRA USCG Durable (WMEC-628) MMA USCG Courageous (WMEC-622) MMA USS Papago (ATF-160) DSR USNS Marshfield (T-AK-282) DD 48 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>