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ON THE COVER World's Biggest Syncrolift Now In Service At Todd's San Pedro Yard A new $47-million Syncrolift shiplift and land-level ship trans- fer facility, the largest and most technologically advanced instal- lation of its kind in the world, was dedicated recently at the San Pedro yard of Todd Shipyards Corpora- tion's Los Angeles Division. The Syncrolift is a product of Pearlson Engineering Company of Miami, a member of the NEI Group. Pearl- son is a world leader in shiplift technology, and the only firm in the world devoted exclusively to the design and manufacture of shiplift systems. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Todd chairman John T. Gilbride said the installation is specifically designed for the re- pair and construction of naval sur- face combatants. It is also suitable for commercial vessels. "This innovative system will in- crease the Los Angeles Division's construction capacity by 100 per- cent and its repair capability by 250 percent," Mr. Gilbride stated. "It will create approximately 800 new jobs and support a work force of up to 4,000 when used at full ca- pacity when all work bays are completed later this year. This would translate into about $250 million in additional annual sales for this division," he said. The Syncrolift will permit the San Pedro yard to perform multi- ple drydockings with one lift plat- form that hoists the ship from the water to land level, where it is towed onto a side transfer carriage and moved to any of five work areas. The platform, which can act as a sixth work station during peak periods, is powered by 110 15-hp electric motors. Lifting speed is approximately nine inches per minute; design maximum lifting time is 72 minutes. The platform, which measures 655 by 106 feet, can handle vessels with overall length of 780 feet and beam of 105 feet. Maximum lifting capacity, when docking directly on the plat- form without a cradle, is 22,200 long tons. Maximum draft over the cradle is 32 feet. According to Todd president Hans K. Schaefer, the Syncrolift installation will enable the Los Angeles Division to achieve pro- ductivity gains resulting from: • Multiple access to vessels un- dergoing overhaul and repair • Better material handling and material flow, including prepositioning • Accelerated preoutfitting of modular units for hulls under construction • Use of the shiplift as a launching platform in lieu of, or supplementing, the new construction in progress on the inclined ways • Lessening of environmental constraints by working ships on land instead of at a wet berth • Mechanical and electrical utility conservation, includ- ing recycling of processed grit materials. The design of the installed and strategically spaced mechanical manifold and multi-service electri- cal stations and crane services at the work bays provides full service to single or double ship berths. The demands at each work bay were developed using peak loads and other requirements as stipu- lated for fully crewed Naval ships. Every anticipated requirement of the ship repair and modular as- sembly options, including outfit- ting at the land level berths, was given full consideration. Compa- rable services were designed for installation at the hoist platform to satisfy production requirements at that location. At the dedication ceremony, chairman Gilbride also an- nounced the formation of a Naval Technology Division, whose sole purpose is to develop new, cost-ef- fective combatant ship concepts and lead ship designs for the U.S. Navy, such as the DDG-51 guided missile destroyer program, and for foreign navies ships such as the 1,800-dwt and 2,500-dwt corvettes currently under consideration by several countries. The new Division, comprising surface combatant technical and management disciplines at both the Los Angeles and Seattle Divi- sions of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation, will be under the management of Los Angeles. Other speakers at the Syncrolift dedication included James Good- rich, Undersecretary of the Navy and a former general manager of the San Pedro yard, and Vice Adm. Earl B. Fowler, com- mander of the Naval Sea Systems Command, the latter a key figure in recommending which shipyard will build the lead ship of the DDG-51 program. "The Syncrolift is indicative of Todd's commitment to support and strengthen sea power for our na- tion's defense," said Len M. Tho- rell, Todd vice president and gen- eral manager of the San Pedro yard. "The Syncrolift will allow us to be more efficient in the repair and maintenance of large vessels, which will translate in cost sav- ings for the Navy and our com- mercial clients as well," he stated. Delta Announces Three Appointments Three key appointments have been made at Delta Steamship Lines, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corporation, according to a recent announcement by Richard F. Andino, Crowley sen- ior vice president and general manager of its Latin American Di- vision, New York. Richard A. Simpson has been appointed vice president, market- ing and sales. Mr. Simpson has more than 22 years' experience in the transportation industry, in- cluding marine, rail, trucking and intermodal modes. Now based at Delta headquarters in New York, he was formerly in charge of mar- keting and sales for Crowley's Caribbean Division, based in Jacksonville. Theodore H. Ellis has joined Delta as vice president of sales, based in New York. Mr. Ellis's 23- year background in transportation includes several years in sales and management positions for Crow- ley. He was most recently vice president of national sales for a major motor carrier. Kenneth N. Tice has been named assistant director of pric- ing. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Tice headed international pricing for Crowley's Caribbean Division, and before that he held manage- ment positions with a ship agency firm and a major U.S.-flag ship- ping company. He is based in New York. Under Crowley's Latin Ameri- can Division, Delta Line operates a fleet of U.S.-flag vessels provid- ing containerized service between the three coasts of the United States and Latin America and West Africa. Rockwood Introduces New Ball Valve Line — Literature Available Rockwood Systems Corporation, Lancaster, Texas, has introduced a new ball valve line (900 Series). It is described in new literature as a stainless steel bar stock type ball valve that ranges from 3/8-inch to 2 inches. Rockwood Systems, a leading manufacturer of quality ball valves, feels that this valve combines both outstanding quality and prices. The 900 Series joins the existing ball valve and safety relief valve lines Rockwood already manu- factures. The company maintains a qual- ity control program that meets all of the specifications necessary to manufacture nuclear submarine ball valves for the U.S. Govern- ment and extends those standards into their other lines. For free literature on the new 900 Series, Circle 87 on Reader Service Card 12 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
