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Tacoma Boat Completes $143-Million Financing To Build Two Thai Corvettes Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Ta- coma, Wash., reported today that all outstanding conditions have been met to finalize the award of a $143-million contract for the de- sign and construction of two 252- foot corvettes for Thailand. The contract had previously been signed subject to obtaining a weapons ex- port license and letters of credit equal to progress payments, noted B. James Lowe, company presi- dent. The weapons export license was granted on July 8, and on Au- gust 24 the requisite letters of credit were issued. The Thai ships include design similarities to four 245-foot patrol-chaser (PCG) ships completed this year under a U.S. Navy contract for an allied nation. This contract establishes the company's backlog, as of June 30, 1983, at $219 million compared to $174 million as of June 30, 1982 Mr. Lowe said. In addition to naval combat and patrol vessels and incineration ships, Tacoma Boat designs and constructs cyclodial-propulsion tugs, tuna purse seiners, barges, off-shore drill rigs, ice-class ships, and other vessels. EDO Receives $6-Million Naval Sonar Contract EDO Corporation's government systems division, College Point, N.Y., has announced the receipt of a $6-million contract from a for- eign navy for two EDO Model-786 hull-mounted sonar systems with associated spare parts and services. According to Frank Fariello, president of the EDO division, the new contract also provides an op- tion, exercisable through June of 1984, for various training courses and technical assistance amount- ing to an additional $1,037,000. Mr. Fariello said that delivery of the sonar systems will be com- pleted in 30 months and that all work on the order will be done at the company's College Point facil- ity. He added that the Model-786 is part of a family of high perform- ance sonars specifically designed for the international market. Blue Star Line To Add Four New Reefer Ships The Blue Star Line has an- nounced the placement of an order for four new Reefer ships to be built at the Harland & Wolff Yard in Belfast. The four ships will be of similar layout and will incorporate the latest technical developments in Reefer vessel design. The 463,000- cubic-foot-capacity vessels have been designed with particular em- phasis on fuel efficiency. The cargo spaces are designed to be pallet ef- ficient and will have minimum clear heights in the 'tween decks of 2.20 meters. Banana side ports and elevator hatches will be incor- porated, as will electric cranes. The ships are expected to enter service in 1985 and will supple- ment the existing fleet in Blue Star Line's Reefer Trading Divi- sion which operates about 20 ves- sels carrying all types of Refriger- ated cargoes in its worldwide operations. Marine Safety Offers Seaway Simulator Training For 180 Ships Masters Marine Safety International, New York, N.Y., in cooperation with the Dominion Marine Asso- ciation, Ottawa, Ontario, have de- veloped a master's training pro- gram which simulates actual traffic and environmental conditions on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Selected sections of the 121-mile seaway round trip are simulated. Four categories of courses are offered for different classes of officers and training on two types of laker ves- sels: wheelhouse forward and wheelhouse aft. Actual situations are simulated such as in strong winds, strange currents, passing, lock transiting, fog and night op- erations, etc. The course is planned to train 180 men in three years. For free literature on simulator training, Write 72 on Reader Service Card Success Story When American Steamship Company selected B-JCo highly skewed propeller blades for their MV CHARLES E. WILSON, they expected a solution to vibration problems. Measurements were recorded before and after the 1980 blade retrofit. Results have been documented: Reduced cavita- tion and reduced vibration—in ballast and full load conditions... in shallow and deep waters... at every power level. Greatly improved crew comfort—with low noise and vibration in ship's accommodations. Peak propulsive efficiency and superior maneuver- ability—because skewed propeller technology is uniquely suited to CP propellers. Photograph courtesy of American Steamship Company For over a decade, 75 US Navy warships have been demonstrating success at sea with B-JCo skewed CP propellers. We've applied that naval propeller manufacturing technology and experience to commercial ships. Highly skewed propellers can minimize vibration on large ships designed to maximize cargo capacity. They provide the low noise and vibration levels essential to research and fishing vessels. Why accept a compromise solution when the B-JCo highly skewed CP propeller can work for your ship (retrofit or new construction), the way it worked for the WILSON? Contact our Marine Sales Department. BIRD-JOHNSON COMPANY KIviIISN 110 Norfolk Street, Walpole, MA 02081, (617) 668-9610 October 1, 1983 Write 273 on Reader Service Card 5
