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Starboard Hull Follows Port Hull Launching ^t^Mr For $25-Million Rig At Bethlehem Beaumont The starboard hull for the Zapata Ugland is shown above on the Beaumont yard building ways. In the left center, foreground, is the semisubmersible Pacesetter I, built for Western Company of North America. Beyond the Pace- setter I is the Zephyr I, a semisubmersible under con- Shown on the front cover, making a big splash as she is sidelaunched at Bethlehem Steel's Beaumont, Texas, shipyard, is the port hull for the approximately $25-million super- semisubmersible drilling rig, Zapata Ugland. Launched March 10, the hull is 350 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 25 feet deep. Her matching starboard hull was launched April 7. Being built for Zapata Off-Shore Company of Hous- ton, Texas, and Ugland Shipping Co. A/S of Grimstad, Norway, the huge column-stabilized drilling rig has been designed by Bethlehem to operate in the extreme conditions of cold and rough weather encountered above the 60th parallel in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The semisubmersible will be 350 feet long, 210 feet wide overall, and' will measure 125 feet from the keel to the underside of the plat- form. In normal operation in water depths up to 1,000 feet, a chain and an anchor mooring system will 'be used. In addition to the diesel electric-powered struction for Storm Drilling Company of Houston and A.P. Moller of Denmark. Photo at right shows the port hull for the Zapata Ugland after her launching. Note contour of the stern, which houses a propulsion-assist unit. The con- figuration of this hull resembles a submarine in some ways. drilling equipment, the unit is equipped with an electrical propulsion system, and has com- plete navigational equipment to enable the semisubmersible to be wholly self-propelled and maneuvera'ble. Bethlehem's Beaumont yard, following its recent expansion and modernization program, now has on order or under construction half a dozen semisubmersible drilling rigs. An ex- panded fabricating shop, including a mechan- ized and automatic panel line, is used for the erection of steel assemblies up to 125 tons. A pioneer in the development, design and con- struction of offshore oil-drilling equipment, the 103-acre yard has 1,860 feet of sidelaunching ways, 155,000 square feet of fabricating platens, 4,000 feet of pier space and some of the best- equipped machine, pipe, electrical and copper shops on the Gulf Coast. Passage from the Gulf up the Sabine into the Neches River and the yard is now unimpeded since the recent re- moval of a nearby railroad bridge. Meyer To Head ITEL Corp.'s Newly Formed SSI Navigation —Three Vessels Purchased ITEL Corporation has entered the shipping business and signed an agreement for the pur- chase of three vessels for approximately $20 million, it was recently announced in San Fran- cisco by Peter S. Redfield, president. Mr. Redfield also announced the appoint- ment of Karl L. Meyer as president of ITEL's newly formed SSI Navigation, Inc. division, which will be responsible for the company's shipping operations. Mr. Meyer was previously associated with Ogden Corporation as vice president and treasurer of Ogden Marine, Inc. ITEL has initially purchased three modern 35,335-deadweight-ton geared bulk carriers, which were delivered last month. Favorable period charters have already been concluded on two of these vessels. The vessels are expect- ed to transport bulk commodities such as grain, iron ore, bauxite and phosphate. In explaining • its entry into the shipping business, Mr. Redfield said: "The whole ship- ping and maritime transportation field, we be- lieve, represents a major growth opportunity for a company that can combine the necessary operating capabilities with financial sophistica- tion and strength. Thus, three basic factors guided the decision for ITEL's entry into the field. "First, the demand for capabilities in mari- time transportation, quite simply, are rising at an unprecedented rate. Second,.ITEL has al- ready had extensive experience in this field over recent years through its operation of the SSI Container Corp., which serves the mari- time transportation industry at virtually all major ports around the world. This has been an expanding and profitable business for us. And third, the success and experience that we've put together at ITEL in capital equip- ment lease underwriting—including leasing of very large crude carriers and other vessels— has given us the professional financial strengths necessary to become a major factor in this business. "We are fortunate to have obtained the serv- ices of Karl Meyer, who has excellent credenti- als in the maritime field. Under his direction, we expect to make further investments in ves- sels as par.t of an overall plan for ITEL to grow quickly in the shipping business." Mr. Meyer, and SSI Navigation, will be head- quartered at 277 Park Avenue in New York City. Prior to his affiliation with Ogden Corp., Mr. Meyer was associated in various maritime- oriented capacities with Litton Industries and General Dynamics Corporation. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Mari- time Academy with a bachelor of science de- gree in marine and electrical engineering. Mr. Meyer also holds a master's degree in business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. John L. Roper II John L. Roper III John L. Roper II, president and chief ex- ecutive officer for Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation, has announced his re- tirement as president and chief executive offi- cer at the recent annual meeting of the cor- poration. He will be succeeded by his son, John L. Roper III, who moves to the chief executive position from the office of executive vice presi- dent and general manager, a position he has held for four years. The senior Mr. Roper will remain as chair- man of the board of the Norfolk-based ship repair firm. In stepping down, Mr. Roper said: "The past 16 years as president and chief ex- ecutive officer have been very gratifying. Dur- ing this period, Norfolk Shipbuilding has come from a small locally oriented shipyard with annual sales of $6 million to a major ship re- pair facility known and respected throughout the maritime industry the world over with sales in excess of $30 million. The young man- agement team," he went on to say, "has had many years' experience at all levels of the ship- yard's operations and has demonstrated com- pletely to my satisfaction its competence over the years. I am certain that under the direction of its new chief executive officer, Norfolk Ship- building and Drydock Corporation wiil con- tinue to grow and prosper. Its service to and influence on the national and international maritime industry will continue to increase." Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock ranks as one of the largest civilian industries in the Nor- folk area, currently employing some 2,000 peo- ple working in three shipyards. The yard is currently planning a major expansion program which should swell the rolls to 4,000 people by 1980, with an annual projected payroll of near- ly $50 million. In addition to the promotion of John L. Roper III as president and chief executive of- ficer, the board elected E.L. Pickler Jr. execu- tive vice president and general superintendent; George W. Roper II, vice president; J.G. Price, vice president and chief of production-Berkley Plant; W.D. Payne, assistant vice president- Brambleton and Southern Plant superinten- dent ; C.H. Eure Jr., assistant vice president and chi^f of engineering and special services; R.B. Richardson Jr., treasurer; E.L. Carlyle, assistant treasurer, and Miss M.R. Griffin, sec- retary. John L. Roper III is a graduate of the Uni- versity of Virginia with a B.S. degree in me- chanical engineering, and holds a B.S. degree in marine engineering and naval architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He started with Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry- dock Corporation in 1951 as a junior superin- tendent and subsequently has held a variety of positions throughout the management struc- ture of the company. He is a member of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engi- neers, a commissioner of the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority, a director and president of Maritime Terminals, Inc., and on numerous business, civic and charitable boards. 6 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
