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Navy Contract Awarded To Marine Propulsion Engineering Marine Propulsion Engineering, Inc. of Quincy, Mass., has received a contract from the Department of the Navy, Naval Undersea R&D Center, San Diego, Calif., and Kailua, Hawaii, in the amount of $83,500. The award was announced by the company's president, Bruce S. Wilkinson. The contract calls for the design and fabrication of two 78-inch diameter Model 240 Wilkinson controllable pitch propel- lers. These propellers will be installed on a new versatile vessel called the SSP (Semi- Submerged Platform) which is powered by two aircraft-type gas turbine engines of 2,500 horsepower each. The vessel uses an entirely new hull design which will permit a top speed of 26 knots. Marine Propulsion Engineering, which went public in 1969, will provide two of their unique controllable pitch propellers. The system was originally conceived by the president and vice president, who were former employees of AVCO in Wilmington. Since forming Marine Propulsion Engineering in 1966, they have de- veloped the system into large propellers now in use at sea. Marine Propulsion's unit eliminates rotary hydraulic joints and rotating control beaTings by installing their unit on a conventional solid tailshaft. MPE's unit also has a free-flooding hub and does not require auxiliary power to hold pitch. To increase the company's potentials and capabilities, MPE became affiliated with Mur- ray & Tregurtha, Division of Mathewson Cor- poration, in October of 1970. Murray & Tre- gurtha, a company with a reputation in the marine industry for over 85 years manufac- tures bow thrusters and M&T Harbormaster stern drives. Mar Ad Project Seeks Improved Merchant Ship Designs Through Ocean Wave Study A multi-
