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Todd Shipyards' Houston Division Launches The Bunker Antigua Shown on the launching platform at Todd Shipyards' Houston Division are, left to right: Arthur W. Stout Jr., general manager of the Division; Chandler Ide, president of Nato- mas Company; Mrs. Walter (sponsor), wife of the Premier of Antigua; Premier George H. Walter, and John T. Gilbride, president of Todd Shipyards Corporation. Todd Shipyards Corporation at their Houston Division christened and launched the tanker refueler Bunker Antigua on Saturday, Sep- tember 18, 1971. The West Indies Oil Company, Limited's (WIOC) Bunker Anti- gua is a unique custom-designed self-propelled bunkering craft spe- cifically tailored to efficiently serv- ice the bunkering requirements of any vessel. This 6,300-ton refuel- ling vessel has the capability of de- livering multiple grades of fuel oils plus potable water simultaneously to any vessel, regardless of size, calling at the deepwater Antigua Terminal for bunkers. Bunker Antigua is 303 feet in length, 60 feet in breadth and in- corporates a tumble home bow to afford the quickest, safest ap- proaches alongside customer ves- sels. The Murray and Tregurtha 480-bp Harbormaster engines with steerable right-angle propellers af- ford the ultimate in maneuverabili- ty, providing for instant and pre- cise reaction to bridge directions. Vessel Characteristics Length overall 303'-6" Beam, molded 60'-0 Depth, molded 23'-6" Draft—max. (scantling draft) 1 8'-6" Displacement (Approx.) 8,500 LT Propulsion—twin screw (continuous rating) 1,000 hp Speed-service 7.0 knots Gross tonnage (est.) 2,900 Net tonnage (est.) 2,30 Cargo capacities 6,300 LT (Approx.42,000 bbls.) Once alongside, a three-ton boom provides more than sufficient lift- ing power to hoist 60 feet off deck any size hoses utilized aboard sea- going vessels. After hookup, Bunk- er Antigua can deliver fuel at an hourly rate in excess of 5,000 bar- rels, affording swift turnarounds. An inline blending machine in- stalled on the craft will control fuel grade mixtures and blends of any proportions within an accuracy of 0.05 percent. The dbvious advantages of Bunk- er Antigua from a shipowner's viewpoint include the savings in time and money derived from bunk- ering in open waters as opposed to dockside with its attendant ex- penses and delays. The vessel is a flush decker with fo'c'sle and deckhouse superstruc- ture aft for generators, crew ac- commodations, navigation spaces and other enclosed spaces. Specifications 1. Two Murray & Tregurtha Mod- el F-7 propulsion units complete with Caterpillar Diesel Engines Model 379, water-cooled heat ex- changer with 250-hp front-end power take-off with clutch. 2. One Cargo Oil Blender Unit as manufactured by Digital Blend- ing Co. 3. Two Cargo Oil Pumps—(2,500 barrels per hour) Model RA- 1881 with gears as manufactured by Waterous Pump Co. 4. One Ballast Pump (1,500 bar- rels per 'hour) Model P 1256 with gears as manufactured by Waterous Pump Co. 5. Two Engine Cooling raw water pumps complete with explosion- proof motors. This vessel represents the most modern and flexible equipment in bunkering service. It augments ex- isting facilities erf the busy Carib- bean port of Antigua and provides in one unit the complete capability of providing fast service with any combination of fuels and water to any size ship. The Independent Petroleum Sup- ply Company (IPS) is the exclu- sive bunker marketing agent for The West Indies Oil Company, Limited (WIOC). In addition to its marketing activities. IPS pro- vides technical assistance and op- erational guidelines to WIOC and others. The original performance requirements and basic design were made by IPS. In its capacity as marketer, IPS foresaw the need in the shipping trade for such a unique bunkering vessel as the Bunker Antigua. Years of experience in the interna- tional marine trade and a thorough knowledge of the shipowners/op- erators requirements were brought together with the design and engi- neering capacity of Martin Marine Co., Ltd. of New York, to produce this vessel. Todd Shipyards in Houston, moving ahead of schedule, brought it to a September 18, 1971, launch- ing which was in advance of t'he originally anticipated date. The contract was won in international competition and no subsidy was involved. The vessel will 'be on location in Antigua, West Indies, next month. The West Indies Oil Company, Limited is located at Friar's Hill near St. John's, Antigua, West Indies. The bunkering location is just off Dickenson Bay at a loca- tion of 17°09'06" and 61°62'00" W. The managingdirector of WIOC is Eugene Bertrand, a West Indi- an, and former Government execu- tive in Trinidad. The WIOC ma- rine department is managed by Capt. Kenneth Green. He heads the entire marine operation for WIOC, including its tanker off- shore mooring facilities, product and crude "Sea Island" and all floating equipment, including the new Bunker Antigua. The new master of the Bunker Antigua will be Capt. Horatio Wilkins. Captain Wilkins will take the Bunker Anti- gua on its sea trials and then bring the vessel from Houston to its home port di St. John's, Antigua. Both The West Indies Oil Com- pany, Limited and the Independent Petroleum Supply Company are subsidiaries of Natomas Company, a California corporation. Duane F. MacFarland, Natomas Company's shareholder representative for Ca- ribbean and Canadian affiliates, of- ficiated at the launching of the Bunker Antigua in Houston. Mrs. George H. Walter, wife of the Premier of Antigua, was the sponsor of the vessel. Mr. Walter and the Honorable Donald A. Hal- stead, Minister of Home Affairs and Labor of Antigua, were in at- tendance on the launching plat- form. Mr. MacFarland, after com- menting on the valuable contribu- tion which the Bunker Antigua would make to the island and WIOC, presented Mrs. Walter with a gold bracelet commemorat- ing the occasion. Chandler Ide, president of Natomas Company and chairman of the board of WIOC, and his wife attended. In- dependent Petroleum Supply Com- pany was represented by Edmond J. DuSesoi, vice president, and his wife. Representing Todd Shipyards Corporation were the president of the firm, John T. Gilbride, and his wife, and the general manager of the Houston Division who also acted as master of ceremonies, Ar- thur W. Stout Jr., and his wife. October 15, 1971 7
