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NAVr S NEWEST: The amphibious assault support ship USS Portland sails from Quincy for the Boston Naval Shipyard where she was turned over to the Navy. Ten Operators Submit Building Plans To MarAd ON THE COVER Ten United States ship operators have informed the Maritime Ad-ministration, U.S. Department of Commerce, that they intend to build 64-72 new ships, Maritime Administrator A.E. Gibson an- nounced. These ships are in addition to 60 new ships to be built by the presently subsidized operators through the mid-1970s to meet their ship rep'acement obligations. Submitted in answer to a MarAd request for data on which to base its shipbuilding program for the next few years, the responses were described by Mr. Gibson as "very heartening, considering that many operators cannot firm up their plans until the President's new maritime program is enacted into law." Legislation embodying the pro- gram is now awaiting Senate ac- tion, having been passed by the House last May. "Once the final bill is signed by the President, I believe that more operators will respond to our re- quest," Mr. Gibson added. Companies replying prior to the August 31 deadline were: Marine Carriers Corp.; Cargo Brokerage Corp.; Anchor Shipping Corp.; Delta Steamship Lines, Inc.; Sea- train Lines, Inc.; Sun Oil Co.; Keystone Shipping Co.; Waterman Steamship Corp.; Columbia Steam- ship Co.; and Central Gulf Steam- ship Corp. Among the ships included in their building plans were: three Bath Iron Works-designed 71,500- dwt ore/bulk/oil carriers; 18 LASH or combination LASH/ containerships; six MarAd-design- ed twin-screw containerships; 10 Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.-designed 69,500-dwt ore/bulk/oil carriers; and five Newport News-designed 120,000- dwt tankers. A detailed listing of the re- spondents and their submissions follows. Respondents Marine Carriers Corp. Cargo Brokerage Corp. Anchor Shipping Corp. Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. Seatrain Lines, Inc. Sun Oil Co. Keystone Shipping Co. Waterman Steamship Corp. Columbia Steamship Co. Central Gulf Steamship Corp. Number of Ships Type 1 Bath SACO—class 71,500-dwt OBO 1 Bath MACHIAS—class 75,500-dwt tanker 2 Bath SACO—class 71,500-dwt OEO 2 Multi-purpose bulk carriers 3 LASH/Container 6 MarAd twin-screw 22,940-dwt containerships 6 Newport News CRESCENT—class 69,520-dwt OBO 7 Seatrain 230,000-dwt tankers 1 80,000-dwt AMERICA SUN—class tanker 5 Newport News VOYAGER—class 1 20,000-dwt tankers 12 LASH vessels 5 Newport News VANGUARD—class 1 6,000-dwt containerships 4 Newport News CRESCENT—class 69,520-dwt OBO 4-10 General purpose vessels 2-4 OB 3 LASH The amphibious assault support ship USS Portland (LSD-37). de- scribed by the Navy as "an excel- lent ship in all respects," recently sai ed from the General Dynamics shipyard in Quincy, Mass., for the Boston Naval Shipyard to be de- livered to the Navy ahead of con- tract schedule. The 562-foot-long ship, which will displace 13,700 tons fully loaded, left the Quincy Shipbuild- ing Division for the last time at 9:00 a.m. on August 28, and ar- rived before noon at the Boston Naval Shipyard where she is ex- pected to be commissioned this month. The Portland, first of four ships in the Navy's landing dock ship class to be built at Quincy, earned from the Navy Board of Inspec- tion and Survey's Summation of Israeli Shipowners Plan To Double Fleet Tourism as their country's chief earner of foreign exchange is being challenged by Israeli shipowners. In 1969, shipping was in second place with slightly over $60 million, compared with $95 million for the tourist business. But by 1975 the na- tion's shipping lines plan to add 2.5 million tons of new vessels. The pres- ent merchant marine is composed of 109 ships totaling slightly under 2 million tons. Israel's Ministry of Transport has just estimated that by 1975, the an- nual freight volume will be 10.6 mil- lion tons compared with 6.8 million last year. The high cost of construction is a limiting factor, but the shipping in- dustry, which has already abandoned the unprofitable passenger business, is going ahead with plans for new types of ships geared to commercial requirements. their evaluation, high praise during preliminary acceptance trials held off the coast of Massachusetts. Named after cities in Maine and Oregon, the Portland was chris- tened December 20, 1969 by Mrs. Emily Chapman, wife of General Leonard F. Chapman Jr., Com- mandant of the Marine Corps. When in full operation, the Port- land will carry a crew of 425, and wil1 transport more than 300 com- bat troops and their vehicles as well as preloaded, heavy landing craft to assault areas. The troops and equipment will be discharged rapidly without the ship having to go onto the beachhead herself. The Portland will undergo final outfitting in Boston and is expect- ed to join the At antic Fleet Am- phibious Force under the command of Capt. Martin "M" Zenni. Israel's biggest line, Zim Naviga- tion Company, is adapting to the con- tainer age. For the time being it will continue to carry containers in con- ventional freighters. But in 1973 it hopes to get the first eight of the 33 new vessels in which it plans to in- vest $300 million. Four will be multinurpose freight- ers that can handle 450 of the 20-foot containers. Four will he roll-on/roll- off vessels accommodating 90 truck- trailers or 360 containers. The other two major shipping lines are Cargo Ships El-Yam, which specializes in liquid and dry hulk transport, and Maritime Fruit Car- riers, Ltd. which operates refriger- ated ships in the international trade. Israel's Ports Authority is plan- ning facilities for containerships and roll-on/roll-off vessels as well as other improvements at the country's three main ports—Haifa and Ashdod on the Mediterranean and Elath on the Gulf of Aqaba, which leads into the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. 64-72 Annual Convention Of AAPA To Be Held In Houston Oct. 18-22 The American Association of Port Authorities, Washington, D.C., will roll out the royal carpet for hundreds of port and transpor- tation executives from all parts of the world when they convene at the 59th Annual Convention at the Shamrock Hilton in Houston, Tex- as. October 18-22, 1970. The objectives and purposes of AAPA are to exchange technical information relative to port con- struction, maintenance, operation, administration, and management; and to promote city, state and na- tional policy of all port affairs. Its studies and findings radiate into every aspect of world trade. According to Paul A. Amundsen, executive director of AAPA, this convention will be the first op- portunity in 15 years to meet in the dynamic city of Houston. The Association is headed by Rae F. Watts. AAPA's meeting is expected to generate unprecedented attention, Mr. Amundsen said. There is tre- mendous interest in the latest aspects of water resources pro- grams, channel capabilities, data processing, containerization, port financing, environmental affairs, in- termodal transportation, public re- lations, labor-management rela- tions, educational requirements, port management and ship opera- tions, and the Association has ar- ranged for exceptionally qualified panels of experts to make this con- ference informative and stimu'at- ing. Mr. Amundsen pointed out that the business sessions will be bal- anced by special luncheons, each featuring an authorative and inter- esting speaker; and by visits and excursions in the Houston area. Among the latter is a welcoming reception at the Shamrock Hilton, hosted by the Port of Houston, and a special dinner at the River Oaks Country Club. On Wednesday, there will be a luncheon in the Astrodome followed by a tour of the NASA manned Space Center, with a reception and entertainment at the Petro'eum Club. Also fea- tured will be a special treat for the delegates and their families, a Texas barbeque and old-fashioned rodeo, hosted by the Journal of Commerce, with all the fun and flavor conducive to an unusual eve- ning in the wide open spaces. 6 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
