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®53 SEE @®W@B Port Engineers/SUNY Forum Discussed Fuels-Present And Future ' » Ms r if > -- .m . Y? * iSr- ii • • • wn i • - . - - Bell-Halter Delivers First Commercial SES To Command Marine The United States' first com- mercial surface effect ship (SES), the Speed Command (shown above) of Command Marine, Inc. of Lafayette, La., became opera- tional recently and is exceeding design and performance expecta- tions, according to James Mello, president of Command Marine. The new "dashboat" built by Bell- Halter, Inc., New Orleans, is now transporting supplies and person- nel to rigs and platforms in the Campeche Sound under contract to Pemex, the Mexican state oil company. "The dashboat has proven to be extremely reliable and has not experienced any downtime due to equipment problems or weather," said Mr. Mello. "In addition, she has demonstrated an ability to operate and maintain speed in ex- tremely rough weather conditions when other vessels had to remain in port," he added. Mr. Mello stated that the Speed Command has carried up to 127 people on some trips and that the dashboat has operated in 10 to 12-foot seas at speeds up to 26 knots. On those occasions the passengers were comfortable and safe and arrived ready to work. The Speed Command rides on a resistance-reducing cushion of air contained by catamaran-style side hulls and flexible bow and stern seals. When under way, the cen- ter portion of the hull is clear of water and supported by the air cushion that dramatically reduces resistance with the water. This low resistance characteristic re- sults in much higher speeds per installed horsepower, and greatly improves the ride characteristics of the vessel. The 110-foot by 39-foot all- aluminum vessel is powered by two SACM 12V175RVR diesel en- gines, each with a maximum con- tinuous rating of 1,500 bhp at 1,560 rpm. The two double inlet centrifugal lift fans are powered by two GM Detroit Diesel 8V92N engines. The Speed Command is regis- tered at under 100 gross tons, and can carry up to 40 long tons on her spacious 1,000-square-foot aft deck. She is the first of four sister surface effect ships to be built for Command Marine at Hal- ter Marine's Chalmette, La., di- vision. The Bell-Halter prototype dem- onstration vessel, the Bell-Halter 110, which is similar to the Speed Command, has been sold to the U.S. Navy. (See MR/EN, March 1, 1979) She has been in service for approximately two years and has completed demonstration tours on the U.S. East Coast and work tours in the Gulf of Mexico. She will serve the U.S. Coast Guard for six months prior to going in service with the U.S. Navy. Another Bell-Halter sur- face effect ship, the Rodolf, is now being operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a hvdrographic survey boat. (See MR EN, April 15, 1980) The theme of this year's 29th Annual Fort Schuyler Forum, co- sponsored by The Society of Ma- rine Port Engineers New York, N.Y., Inc. and the State Univer- sity of New York Maritime Col- lege, was "Fuels — Present and Future." The day-long meeting was held recently on the SUNY Maritime College campus at Fort Schuyler, Bronx, N.Y. Co-chair- men of this year's program were John Antonetz of Texaco, Inc. and Prof. Jose Femenia, chairman of the Engineering Department at the Maritime College. Presiding at both the morning and afternoon technical sessions was Port Engineers Society pres- ident George E. Murphy of United States Lines. After an address of welcome by Rear Adm. Sheldon H. Kinney (USN Ret.), president of the Maritime College, Mr. An- tonetz moderated the morning technical session. This session featured three technical presentations: Impact of Fuel Qualities on Boilers and Diesels, by Matthew F. Winkler of Seaworthy Engine Systems, Inc.; Alternate Fuels for the Maritime Industry, by Eldred N. Cart Jr. of Exxon Research and Engineering Company; and Re- engining Sea-Land Service Ships, by John J. Nichols of Sea-Land Service, Inc. The afternoon session, moder- ated by Prof. Femenia, heard two additional presentations: Prob- lems With Existing Fuel Purifi- cation Systems and Solutions, by Nicholas H. Chavasse of Alpha Laval, Inc.; and Filtrations in Ma- rine Diesel Protection, co-au- thored by William C. French of Fuels Conditioning Systems, Inc. and Darrell Wrolstad of Nelson Industries, Inc. The day's activities concluded with a social hour at the College Club on campus. Officers and authors at recent Port Engineers/SUNY Forum at Fort Schuyler (L to R, seated): Thomas J. Young, 1st vice president; John Antonetz, Forum co-chair- man; George E. Murphy, president; Prof. Jose Femenia, co-chairman; Darrell Wrol- stad, author. Standing: Edward English, secretary/treasurer; John J. Nichols, author; Nicholas H. Chavasse, author; William C. French, author; Eldred N. Cart Jr., author; Matthew F. Winkler, author. Propulsion Systems Appoints Three New Sales Representatives In a move to expand its sales representation in key market areas, Propulsion Systems, Inc. (PSI) of Kent, Wash., has re- cently added three new sales agents. Peter F. Woeck, president of PSI, has announced the ap- pointment of Upton Marine En- gineering and Service Company of Walpole, Mass.; Fulshear Kramer Company of Fulshear, Texas; and John C. Henberger & Company of San Diego to the PSI sales team. Upton Marine will cover the New England states, Fulshear Kramer the state of Texas, and Henberger the Los Angeles and San Diego territories. They will provide present and future cus- tomers with information concern- ing a complete line of controllable- pitch propellers, thrusters, rotary vane steering gear, and electronic control systems manufactured by PSI. Drive Systems, Inc. and Charles A. Narwicz Co. still cover the Gulf-Southeast and New York City areas, respectively. Title XI Approved On Offshore Ships Services' $3.2-Million Vessel The Maritime Administration has approved in principle a Title XI application by Offshore Ship Services, Inc., 2017 Engineers Road, Belle Chasse, La. 70037, to aid in financing the construction of a 2,560-bhp oceangoing tug/ supply vessel. The vessel is ex- pected to be chartered to a major oil company engaged in offshore drilling or other energy projects. If approved, Title XI financing would cover $2,800,000 or 87 percent of the estimated cost of $3,200,000. Rysco Shipyard, Inc., Blountstown, Fla., is building the vessel, which is scheduled for de- livery in August. 12 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
