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issue a waterborne bill of lading without bearing the excessive cost and time involved in making a di- rect call. The container feeder barge Mc- Allister Shuttle can be loaded with 192 twenty-foot containers lashed to her deck. The Grace McAllister will add to the Baker-Whiteley fleet of six tugs one of the most powerful and maneuverable tugboats in the Port of Baltimore. Whether dock- ing ships, moving large barges, or working in the harbor the Grace McAllister — packing 40 percent extra thrust with her Kort noz- zle—will keep pace with the cur- rent trend toward increasing sizes of containerships, tankers, and bulk carriers. Auxiliary Oiler For U.S. Navy Christened At Avondale Shipyards "Remote control" christening for U.S. Navy AO Merrimack at Avondale Shipyards was performed from barge in foreground. Mrs. Charles H. Griffiths was sponsor. Avondale Shipyards, Inc., a sub- sidiary of Ogden Corporation, re- cently christened the USS Merri- mack (AO-179), the third in a series of five auxiliary oilers be- ing built for the U.S. Navy. These are the first of their type to be built since 1956; deliveries will be- gin this year and extend through 1982. Mrs. Charles H. Griffiths, wife of the vice admiral who is Dep- uty Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare), served as sponsor of the ship. Other prin- cipals at the christening ceremony were Albert L. Bossier Jr., pres- ident of Avondale Shipyards, who presided at the ceremony and de- livered the welcome address; Vice Adm. Charles H. Griffiths, USN, who delivered the principal ad- dress ; and Rear Adm. Paul H. Engel, USN, Deputy Commander- Plans, Programs, and Financial Management/Comptroller, NAV- SEA, who also delivered remarks. With a crew of 200 officers and enlisted personnel, the AO's mis- sion is to deliver bulk DFM (Die- sel Fuel Marine) and JP-5 from shore depots to AOEs and AORs effecting delivery under way, to make underway delivery to com- batants and support forces, and to deliver limited fleet freight, mail, and personnel. The Merrimack has an overall length of 591 feet, beam of 88 feet, mean draft of 31.5 feet, and displacement of 26,110 tons. Pow- ered by a fully automated, 24,000- shp steam turbine and two boilers, she has a sustained sea speed of 20 knots. Liquid cargo transfer capabil- ity is provided by three "stream" double-hose (DFM/JP-5) stations to port and two single-hose sta- tions to starboard. Piping for 7-inch hose for both DFM and JP-5 outlets is provided at all de- livery stations. One 21/l2-inch JP-5 hose rig is provided at each after fueling station port and starboard for token transfer to small ships. Manpower requirements for fuel- ing-at-sea evolutions have been reduced by automating the liquid cargo transfer system and by re- design of the liquid cargo transfer station for underway replenish- ment. The capability to transfer fleet issue cargo, fleet freight, and per- sonnel is provided for by the in- stallation of one send/receive re- plenishment station on each side. Each replenishment kingpost is fitted with a five-ton boom for ship-to-shore/barge transfer of cargo, and with outriggers for non-stream ship-to-ship delivery. A helicopter platform for day operations only is provided aft for VERTREP (vertical replen- ishment) of hard cargo and fleet freight, and for landing without service and maintenance facilities. A storeroom for hard cargo is provided on the 01 level forward permitting horizontal breakout to the replenishment stations and the VERTREP platform aft. McAllister Begins New Container Feeder Service At Baltimore The recent arrival of the 3,500- bhp tugboat Grace McAllister in the Port of Baltimore marked the inauguration of a new McAllister Container Feeder Service connect- ing the ports of Norfolk and Phil- adelphia with Baltimore. Early this year the 116-year- old McAllister Brothers Towing and Transportation Company, headquartered in New York City, merged with the Baker-Whiteley Towing Company of Baltimore. The arrival of the Grace McAl- lister and the start of the new feeder service are part of McAl- lister's plans to expand into the nation's second largest container port. "With the inauguration of a new Feeder Service route into the Port of Baltimore," stated An- thony J. McAllister Jr., "and the addition of the Grace McAllister to the Baker-Whiteley fleet, Mc- Allister Brothers feels it is taking a step into a busy and thriving port—a firm step into the future for the Port of Baltimore." The Container Feeder Service, a concept in marine transporta- tion for the 1980s, was pioneered in the U.S. by McAllister Broth- ers in 1975. Figures prove its suc- cess. Since its inception, the Mc- Allister Feeder Service has moved some 60,000 TEUs of cargo. E. Patrick Mullally, operations manager for McAllister Feeder Service, sees it as representing for ocean carriers an appealing package, wedding convenience and economy with profitability. The shipper who arrives in Baltimore with only 10 containers bound for Philadelphia or Norfolk will find that when sending his containers on a McAllister barge he can still The 3,500-bhp Grace McAllister will add to the Baker-Whiteley fleet of six tugs one of the most powerful and most maneuverable tugboats in the Port of Baltimore. Container Feeder Service barge McAllister Shuttle can be loaded with 192 twenty- foot units. New feeder service will link Baltimore with Philadelphia and Norfolk. 38 ZIDELL Maritime Reporter/Engineering News