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U.S. Coast Guard Drops Plan For Early Loran-A Phase-Out Loran-A stations, relied upon by nearly two-thirds of the members of the American Institute of Mer- chant Shipping as a primary elec- tronic navigational aid for deter- mining vessel position, will not be subject to phase-out this year, as a result of hearings before the Coast Guard and Navigation Sub- committee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. The Coast 'Guard has assured AIMS that it will keep open through the fiscal year 1974 all Loran-A stations now in operation. Confirmation of this determina- tion was first revealed in recent testimony by Deputy Under Sec- retary of Transportation Theodore C. Lutz before the House Subcom- mittee chaired by Representative John Murphy (D-N.Y.). The Sub- committee's earlier hearing on the Coast Guard authorization bill was the forum for public announcement of the decision to begin phasing- out Loran-A stations ahead of the previously announced schedule, and before agreement on an alternative radionavigational system. Following testimony that the stepped-up phase-out was due to budgetary constraint — meaning that the new schedule was set by the Office of Management and fllonflrk The workboat company! When you think of workboats, think of the workboat company. MonArk. Our strong, lightweight, high performance boats are designed to work where the going gets rough. You'll find our dependable "marine jeeps" on the job under all kinds of conditions—for oil exploration, drilling, and production; law enforcement; commercial diving and fishing; research; pollution control—wherever the work calls for a boat that can really take it. Let us help solve your marine transportation problem. 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Other well known Cranegard com- ponents include Load Indicating and Angle Indicating Systems which may be ordered separately or used together for optimum protection. FREE! CRANEGARD CATALOG. A safety-first catalog which points the way to saving lives and equipment. Helpful illustrations, engineering drawings and easy installation instructions. Write today! If.C. tyillo I W.c. dC/UIOrt & COMPANY, INC. CGBL-1 Dept. 208-E1, 14620-GT Keswick St., Van Nuys, Calif. 91407 (213) 786-8812 •illon cranegard tensiometer measures nsion in moving or static lines! The new Dillon Cranegard Tensiometer has been specially designed for use on cranes and derricks, wherever ten- sion measurement of either moving or stationary line or wire rope is critical. Unit is available in two capacities from 0-20,000 lbs. and 0-30,000 lbs. and will accommodate wire rope, or any similar material, with diameters from %" to 5/s". Tension readings are represented as a percent of total selected load limit. Audible and visual alarms warn crane operator as maximum safe loads are approached. Readout may be placed in crane cab for convenient viewing. Meets 0SHA Regulations 1518.550 and 1504.74. Accuracy within ±1% of full range. Rugged construction. FREE! LINE TENSIOMETER BULLETIN serves as a ' valuable planning guide in solving line tension " measurement problems. Includes dimensional draw- J". - ings, available capacities, and offers application ideas. Write today! W. C. Dill Oft & COMPANY, INC. CGLT-l Dept. 208-E2, 14620-GT Keswick St., Von Nuys, Colif. 91407 (213) 786-8812 Budget—AIMS president James J. Reynolds appeared before Repre- sentative Murphy to urge the Sub- committee to take whatever steps it could to prevent the early clos- ing of Loran-A stations. AIM'S testimony called attention to the threat to the environment and ma- rine safety posed by prematurely shutting down these navigational aids. This action prompted the Fed- eral Government to reevaluate its decision, resulting in Secretary Lutz's statement that Loran-A signal emitting stations would be kept open for at least another year while alternatives are discussed with user groups. DOT said the continued operation of these sta- tions would be accomplished with- in current budget estimates. Gulf Mississippi Marine Announces Promotions Claude J. Autin, president of Gulf Mississippi Marine Corpora- tion, a Louisiana-based company serving the marine industry world- wide, has announced the following promotions: Named to the position of execu- tive vice president is former vice president Lavell Isbell. Mr. Isbell will be in charge of both domestic and international activities. O.L. Kirkpatrick is the manager- director of North 'Sea operations. Mr. Kirkpatrick, who has 15 years of experience in the marine indus- try, will direct all North Sea and European activities from London. Manager of operations for the North Sea and Europe, with head- quarters in Leith, Scotland, is Capt. Philip Thomassie. Newly appointed vice president John Norrod will handle all Middle East operations and will be based in Dubai. He is a graduate of Kings Point with 10 years of experience in the industry. Other promotions include Bob Morrill, manager of traffic for the Gulf of Mexico and Central and South America; Capt. Albert Heb- ert, manager of new construction, and Capt. Jeff Guidry, personnel manager. These new alignments reflect the expansion of Gulf Mississippi Ma- rine. Formed in 1958 as a towing service for the Louisiana Gulf, the Gulf fleet is now operating through- out the world. In addition to tow- ing, the company operates supply vessels and heavy duty barges. Virginia Port Authority Promotes M.V. Craft Jr. M.V. Craft Jr., Virginia Port Authority director of planning has been promoted to the post of deputy executive director of port development and plans, according to the Authority's executive direc- tor Adm. Ephraim P. Holmes. lln his new post, Mr. Craft will be responsible for managing the re- search, engineering and planning for the development of Virginia ports. 46 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News