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$5.4-Million Engineering Contract Awarded By Navy To Comptek Research Comptek Research, Incorpo- rated, Buffalo, N.Y., has been awarded a $5,411,059 cost-plus- fixed-fee contract for engineering support and computer software services in support of shipboard combat tactical data systems for new ship design programs and ship modernization overhaul pro- grams as a result of negotiation. Work will be performed in Nor- folk, Va., Arlington, Va., and Vallejo, Calif. The Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, is the contract- ing activity. (N00189-80-C-0761) Halter Delivered 30 Big Commercial Vessels In First Half Of 1980 Halter Marine, Inc., New Or- leans, delivered 30 large commer- cial vessels during the first six months of 1980. For that period, Halter president Floyd J. Naquin reported deliveries of 17 supply vessels, seven crewboats, five tugs, and one utility/fireboat from the company's six commercial ship- yards. Mr. Naquin said the production figures reflected a considerable in- crease in Halter's construction of crewboats and tugs. Halter Marine is already the world's largest build- er of supply boats for the offshore petroleum industry. "Efforts to strengthen our pro- duct mix in the marine market are now being realized. In fact, Halter Marine is building more types of vessels now than ever before, es- pecially innovative designs like diesel-electric supply boats, giant catamaran tugs, and surface effect ships," Mr. Naquin explained. He said the firm's two consumer boat divisions had also delivered 20 fiberglass fishing boats, and 27 high-speed offshore racing and pleasure boats built by the Cigar- ette Racing Team, a wholly owned subsidiary of Halter. Commercial and consumer production figures were reported separately to give a more accurate picture of the com- pany's output. Prominent among the 52 vessels under construction at Halter's six commercial shipyards are seven large CATUGS, six of which Halt- er is building as a subcontractor to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Di- vision of Bethlehem Steel Corpor- ation. The first of the $20-million vessels was launched July 3, and construction of the second and third vessels is well under way. Although the CATUGS are un- der construction at Halter's Chick- asaw, Ala., division, all of the steel is cut and fabricated in New Orleans at the company's central steel cutting facility on the Indus- trial Canal. Mr. Naquin said the Industrial Canal Division is able to serve all of Halter's commercial divisions because of the use of high-speed plasma arc cutting ma- chines, which are computer-direct- ed. "With these machines," ex- plained Mr. Naquin, "we can cut just about all of the steel for a vessel, with far greater accuracy, mark and kit it for shipment to the erection site in far less time than it would take to do it on site. As a matter of fact, these ma- chines are so efficient, we now cut steel for other non-competitive shipyards." He added that centralizing this phase of construction also stand- ardizes the vessels while improv- ing on modular construction techniques. Halter has also initiated a de- sign, construction, and test pro- gram for bulk mud tanks that are included in nearly all supply boats serving the offshore oil and gas fields. The new Halter-designed tanks promise more efficient dis- charge with less waste. The Indus- trial Canal tanks are built to the rigorous standards of the Ameri- can Society of Mechanical Engi- neers (ASME), and have under- gone extensive testing before being offered to the industry. Halter recently received its ASME code certification for pressure ves- sels, and now holds one of only two such code stamps issued to Gulf Coast area shipbuilders. Mr. Naquin announced that Halter is also now ready to enter the ship repair business with the completion of one of the largest drydocks on the Gulf Coast. Lo- cated at Chickasaw, Ala., the new 4,000-ton deadweight-capacity drydock is 160 feet long and 120 feet wide. It can presently accom- modate two supply boats simul- taneously or a large derrick or pipe-lay barge, and vessels with drafts up to 30 feet. In the near future, this same dock will be ex- tended to over 500 feet in length. Adding to Halter's healthy back- log is a new contract for the con- struction of four surface effect ship "dashboats" that Halter builds in a joint venture with Bell- Aerospace Textron. The 110-foot vessels for Command Marine, Inc. of Lafayette, La., offer high speed, stability, and a 2,000-mile range. They will be the first of their type to serve the offshore oilfields, and company officials feel that their leadership in these new vessels will help maintain Halter's posi- tion as one of the most innovative shipbuilders in the nation. The Offshore Company Names Giles V. Wright Manager Of Purchasing George T. Richardson, president and chief operating officer of The Offshore Company, Houston, has announced the promotion of Giles V. Wright to manager of pur- chasing. In his new position, Mr. Wright will continue to be responsible for the procurement, exportation, and distribution of equipment and supplies for Offshore. He joined Offshore in 1963 and served as purchasing agent, a position he has held until his recent pro- motion. James Rhodes Appointed Communications Director For Navidyne Corp. Navidyne Corporation announc- es the appointment of James H. Rhodes to the newly created po- sition of director of corporate communications. In that capacity, he will be responsible for all ad- vertising, public relations, and in- ternal communications programs, according to A. Clifford Barker, company president. James H. Rhodes Prior to joining Navidyne, Mr. Rhodes was senior writer and as- sistant account executive with Public Relations Institute, Inc., in Norfolk. Before that, he was a writer and editor with the con- sulting firm of Lulejian & Asso- ciates, Inc. Founded in 1973, Navidyne has established itself in a position of leadership in the marine electron- ics industry. The company is the world's leader in sales of ship- board satellite navigation receiv- ers, and has recently introduced a new Loran C navigator that draws heavily on the company's experience in Satnav technology. Headquartered in Newport News, Va. Navidyne maintains a world- wide network of sales and service agents. Cutless rubber bearings need only a thin film of water to keep propeller C shafts rotating smoothly and efficiently. An exclusive "water wedge" design keeps a thin layer of •water between the bearing and shaft. In effect the load is floating on the lubricating film. Shaft friction and horsepower losses are minimal. Water does the job. And there's not a drop of oil or grease to worry about contaminating the waterways. Trouble-free Cutless marine bearings from Lucian Q. Moffitt, use them for maintenance or new construction. LUCIAN MOFFITTJNC NATIONAL mil INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS P.O. Box 1415, AKRON, OHIO 44309 22 ZIDELL Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
