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Peterson Builders, Inc. (PBI) of Sturgeon Bay, Wise., recently launched the fourth 255-foot, steel- hulled rescue/salvage vessel for the U.S. Navy. Christened Grapple (ARS-53), she is the culmination of a three-year construction project supplying the Navy with these new Safeguard Class vessels. These ships possess upgraded mission-essential equipment and systems to perform the diversified missions that will be assigned to them. These can include salvage, rescue and retrieval, patrol duties, firefighting, and support/supply services to the fleet. Extensive di- ving operations are accomplished using the ships' diver life support air system, the finest in the Navy. Mrs. Patricia Allen was the sponsor for the Grapple; her moth- er, Mrs. Charles E. Mason, as- MarAd Approves Sale Of Delta Line To U.S. Lines The Maritime Administration has given its approval for United States Lines, Inc. to acquire the ships and other assets of Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. Under the agreement, USL will buy the 11 existing Delta ships and will charter the three being built at the Odense Shipyard in Denmark for Crowley Maritime Corporation, Delta's parent compa- ny. Instead of a cash transaction, USL is giving Crowley Maritime Boeing Sells Jetfoil To Canadian Company For Marine Research Island Research and Develop- ment Corporation of Victoria, Brit- ish Columbia, has ordered a Boeing Marine Systems Jetfoil hydrofoil for use in marine research tasks. The approximate value of the sale is $24 million. Jetfoil is Boeing's trade mark name for its computerized hy- drofoil. The Jetfoil, scheduled for de- livery in June this year, will be used for the extension of conventional research into various aspects of oceanography, pollution control, bottom mapping, bottom material classification, and geophysical mea- surements for IRDC clients. High- speed acoustic data-gathering tech- niques will also be pursued for vari- ous governmental clients. The Jetfoil is considered an ideal platform for oceanographic research tasks because of its high speed and ability to operate comfortably in rough water. It features a fully sub- merged foil, automatic computer control, and waterjet propulsion. IRDC plans to outfit its Jetfoil with research test equipment following delivery. Operating and mainte- nance crews for the research vessel will be provided by Island Jetfoil Corporation of Victoria. That com- pany also commences Jetfoil pas- senger service between Seattle, Vic- toria, and Vancouver in March this year. Boeing Jetfoils are operating in commercial passenger service be- tween Hong Kong and Macao, in the Sea of Japan, in the Canary Islands, and across the English Channel. Boeing has also sold Jetfoils to the Republic of Indonesia for coastal patrol service. The Grapple (ARS-53), a steel-hulled rescue/salvage vessel, built for the Navy, was launched recently by Peterson Builders. Peterson Yard Launches Another Rescue/Salvage Vessel For Navy New York SNAME Meeting Hears Paper On Shipboard Computers sisted her as matron of honor. The sponsor's husband, Richard V. Allen, an internationally recog- nized authority on foreign policy and national security affairs, was the principal speaker at the launch- ing ceremony. Other speakers in- cluded Capt.' William C. Pfister, USN, NavSea program manager for all auxiliary and special-mission ships; Capt. Paul M. Robinson, USN, Sturgeon Bay Supervisor of shipbuilding; and Ellsworth L. Peterson, president of PBI. The Grapple will join her sister ships previously launched at PBI— Safeguard, Grasp, and Salvor. Suc- cessful operational and heavy-lift tests have been completed recently for the lead ship of the class, the Safeguard, and she is scheduled for spring 1985 commissioning by the Navy. A recent meeting of the New York Metropolitan Section of The Socie- ty of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers heard a paper titled "Se- lection Considerations for Ship- board Computer Hardware." The authors were Albert C. Song, vice- president-micro/mini systems, and Donald F. Logan, vice president- marketing, both of Marine Manage- ment Systems, Inc. The paper covered considerations in the selection of shipboard com- puter hardware for various manage- ment functions. Factors such as re- quired computational and storage capacity, environment, service, communications, and software com- patibility with other computers were discussed. The paper also in- cluded reference to industry case studies, and discussed the subject of classification approval procedures. In summary the authors ex- pressed the following conclusions: "A new era of shipboard computer application appears to be emerging in the maritime industry. The past five years may be looked on as one of testing applications as well as evaluating the acceptability of the new microcomputer for shipboard use. The majority of the major ship- owners have accepted the fact that such systems are necessary for effi- cient management of their vessels; the question is how to go about implementing such systems. The first step is to gain an understand- ing of the necessary elements and the options open to covering them. "In the long run, successful appli- cations will depend on the shipown- er making the necessary commit- ment of his own resources, not just the purchase of systems but in his own personnel. This starts with a commitment by management to identify what the actual require- ments are, committing to a plan to meet them, and also committing the necessary internal staff to carry it out." For a copy of the paper and addi- tional information on shipboard computer hardware and systems, Circle 10 on Reader Service Card 366,000 shares of a new Class B pre- ferred stock issued by McLean In- dustries, USL's parent organization. The stock has a par value of $100 per share. The MarAd approval requires that USL continue Delta's subsi- dized services between the U.S. and South America, but on a reduced basis. Along with the Moore McCor- mack fleet purchased by McLean Industries last year, the acquisition and charter of the Delta ships makes United States Lines the dom- inant American-flag liner operator in the Central and South American trades. Principals at recent New York Section SNAME included (L to R): John H. Higginbotham, vice chairman; Daniel Savitsky, Papers Committee co-chairman; Albert C. Song, author; Donald F. Logan Jr., author; and William H. Garzke, chairman. 22 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
