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The first assignment for the Noordzee will be the towing of two tankers in tandem from the United States to Spain. L. Smit's Newest Oceangoing Tug On May 29, 1970, the ocean-going motor tug Noordzee was added to the fleet of L. Smit & Co.'s International Sleepdienst. The vessel was constructed by the Shipbuilding and Engineer- ing Works "De Merwede"at Hardinxveld-Gies- sendam, Hoi and. Built to Lloyd's Register Maltese Cross 100 A-l Tug Classification, the Noordzee is a sister ship of the Rode Zee (commissioned in 1968), which was the first tug equipped with the new type Werkspoor T.M. 410 diesel engines. She is a single-screw tug, equipped with a four-bladed variable pitch propeller which is turning in a nozzle, thereby increasing the bol- lard-pull considerably. The propeller shaft is driven through a reduction gear and two Vul- can fluid couplings by two Werkspoor turbo- charged, four-stroke, single acting six-cylinder diesel engines. The combined output of this propulsion machinery is 11,000 ihp. The tug's large bunker capacity enables her to perform ocean towages with heavy objects over very long distances without having to re- fuel en route. Three generator sets of 275 kvv each supply 380-volt alternating current, while for emer- gency cases an additional diesel generator set is installed. Adjacent to the engine room is a workshop equipped with various machine tools: lathe, shaping machine, drilling machine, grinding machine, welding units, as well as a welding converter which can be used in underwater cutting or welding. Two lifeboats, each with a capacity of 30 per- sons, are on board as is a workboat which is to be used for transferring men and material during salvage operations. This workboat is lowered and hoisted by a hydraulic crane. Two steel wire ropes of 3,281 feet each with a circumference of 7]/\ inches and 6J/2 inches respectively, are reeled on the towing winch, which has two independent drums. The towing equipment, stored in a special hold, consists of double ny'on hawsers of 15 inch circumference, pennants, chains, etc. The spare towing equipment includes two steel wire ropes of 7}4 inch circumference, each with a length of 3,281 feet. There are mechan- ically operated drums for storing of the spare wires and also for storing of pennants etc., thus diminishing the manual labor for handling the heavy wires. On the main deck aft a winch with two drums has been installed for handling the gog ropes. The windlass 011 the raised forecastle deck is driven by the motor one deck below. The crew is accommodated in air-conditioned quarters. The accommodation comprises a mess room and smoke room for the officers and also a combined mess and smoke room for the crew. A we 1 equipped galley with an electric range and food machines is situated 011 the main deck. Adjacent to the two mess rooms there are two pantries. Apart from the crew the tug can accommo- date additional men for manning a tow or for salvage work. Installation of a fresh water dis- tiller reduces the space necessary for fresh, water storage and provides more bunker ca- pacity. The Noordzee carries extensive fire-fighting and salvage equipment, such as a fire-fighting pump with a maximum capacity of 350 tons per hour, nine connections for 2y2 inch fire hoses, two monitors on a high platform at the smokestacks and one monitor on top of the wheelhouse. These monitors can also be used for spraying foam. The vessel herself is pro- tected against fire by a CO2 installation in the engine room. The transportable salvage equipment in- cludes diesel motor pumps, submersible electric pumps with diesel generator sets, many suc- tion and delivery hoses, an air compressor, salvage anchors, diving gear, welding and cut- ting plant, patching materials, etc. The very modern wheelhouse is designed in such a way that an excellent view, forward and aft, is always guaranteed. A console is installed in the wheelhouse for- ward for the pneumatic remote control of the propeller, the lever for the rudder and auto- matic pilot, the communication system, the re- peaters of the magnetic and of the gyro com- pass, the echosounder and the electric log. The remainder of the navigational equipment is in- stalled on the chart table which is also in the wheelhouse. The wireless station in a separate room on the port side aft in the wheelhouse, is equipped with the latest and most extensive communica- tion aids. Her main dimensions are: Overall length 224 feet 9 inches; length b.p. 203 feet 5 inches; overall breadth 41 feet 5 inches; molded beam 39 feet 8 inches; molded depth 21 feet 0 inches; draft at C.W.L. 18 feet 1 inch. Her first assignment is the towage of two scrap tankers in one tow from the Lnited States to Spain. Master of the tug Noordzee is Capt. J. Bruins. The Poolzee, third unit in Smit's 11,000 ihp class of tugs and now under construction at the yard of "De Merwede", will be placed in service in December 1970. Smit's fleet of ocean- going tugs will then number 18 units: three of 11,000 ihp; two of 9,000 ihp; two of 4,500 ihp; four of 4,000 ihp; three of 3,000 ihp and four of 2,000 ihp. Balancing Service Company Sold To Diehl and Lundgaard Seattle's oldest balancing company, Balanc- ing Service Company, was recently sold to a group headed by the marine engineering firm of Diehl and Lundgaard. Harold O. Hanawalt, the previous owner of the company, will con- tinue as a consultant. Mr. Hanawalt is well- known along Seattle's waterfront, having bal- anced everything from destroyer propellers to high-speed turbine rotors. In the past Diehl and Lundgaard has been performing field balancing as well as acoustic and vibration troubleshooting, and the associa- tion with Balancing Service Company will ex- tend their range of capabilities to the entire field of vibration and noise control. Balancing Service Company is located at 2763 First Avenue South, Seattle, Wash. SUPPORT FOR U.S. SHIPS: Secretary of Commerce Maur- ice H. Stans (right) attaches a bumper sticker proclaim- ing "They serve you and U.S.—Use U. S. ships" to his car. A. E. Gibson, Maritime Administrator in the Com- merce Department, assists Mr. Stans. Produced cooper- atively by maritime industry and labor organizations, the bumper sticker summarizes the intent of the Maritime Administration's new trade promotion program to alert American shippers to the benefits of using U.S.-flag ships whenever possible. Over half a million of the red, white, and blue bumper stickers have been distributed nationally through the sponsoring organizations. 8 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
