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Guest Editorial (continued) Security and Economic Considera- tions." This report concludes that "U.S. commercial maritime capabil- ities will probably decline by a third or more by this decade's end. That condition may or may not be in the national interest. That decline must not, however, occur by default. Broader public debate and discus- sion are essential. The issue is too vital to be resolved through inac- tion." This issue, we believe, transcends partisan and parochial interests and is truly a national issue. Further- more, it is an issue on which we have clear historical perspective. Two world wars have demonstrated beyond all argument the essentiality of maintaining three-coast ship- building capacity, as reported in Frederick Lane's comprehensive history of World War II shipbuild- ing entitled "Ships for Victory." I quote: "In 1940 and 1941, the Mari- time Commission and the leaders of the shipbuilding industry at- tempted to applv lessons learned from 1917-1919. Recalling the over- concentration in the Northeast, they wisely placed many new ship- yards on the Gulf and Pacific Coasts." In addition, of four admin- istrative offices established, "the most important regional office was that in Oakland, California" which from 1939 to 1945 delivered 10.2 million displacement tons of ships all from West Coast commercial yards, compared with 7.7 and 3.9 million displacement tons, respec- tively, on the East and Gulf Coasts. Todd is fully committed to seeing that none of the foregoing scenarios becomes a reality. We intend to speak out and to stay in business despite current and projected diffi- culties in our industry. Should the citizens of the West Coast also be concerned about these "could never happen here" events? You bet they should. We have the responsibility to make citizens in our ten neighboring Western states aware that they, too, have a stake in maintaining a healthy private West Coast shipbuilding industry and must convince government decision makers to redirect national policy towards preserving balanced mari- time resources. As things now stand, the West Coast is the area most severely im- pacted by government misdirection. It is also a strategically located mar- itime/industrial center of immense value to national security and eco- nomic well-being. The message to be sent is not from a supplicant with hat in hand, but from a group of proud and productive citizens who are greatly disturbed at its govern- ment's shortsightedness. We at Todd urge you to share our sense of deep concern on this issue and we pledge to support your action with all our resources. FELS And Smit Combine Resources For Heavy Lifts —Color Brochures Offered Asianlift, a specialized marine heavy-lift pool, has been formed by two widely experienced companies in this field—Far East Levingston Shipbuilding Ltd. (FELS) and Smit International South East Asia Ptd. Ltd. The Asianlift fleet currently comprises four heavy-lift floating sheerleg cranes. Two of the units are self-propelled, with lifting capaci- ties up to 1,600 tons, capable of lift- ing to heights of 130 meters (426.5 feet). Asianlift's experienced engineer- ing staff can reliably identify and develop the optimum solution to any lifting or construction problem and high-lift engineering. It can also plan operations to insure fast, reli- able execution with maximum safe- ty, and provide supervision at every stage of the operation. The new venture has direct access to FELS and Smit know-how and experience in heavy and high lifts, rig supply services, offshore mainte- nance, underwater services, heavy- lift barge transportation, salvage and wreck removal, worldwide tow- age, cable laying, marine engineer- ing and installation and inspection of offshore projects, building of off- shore construction vessels, drilling rigs, and accommodation/support vessels; and offshore fabrication and repair. For further information and free brochures giving specifications on cranes that each company operates, Circle 88 on Reader Service Card Thomas Products Offers Model 1500 Flow Switch —Literature Available Thomas Products Ltd., Southing- ton, Conn., has made available the model 1500, a high-pressure in-line flow switch which is designed for accurate field adjustability with flow settings for both liquids and gases. The model 1500 comes with /2-inch NPT ports and is con- structed of brass or 316 stainless steel. Flow settings range from .5 gpm to 20.0 gpm in liquids or from 3 to 475 SCFM in gases. The flow switch is very versatile because of its wide range of flow settings and its low pressure drop. Operation of the model 1500 is simple. The piston houses a magnet which is displaced by the liquid's or gas's flow or no flow condition to actuate a hermetically sealed S.P.D.T. reed switch. For more information concerning the Thomas Products's Model 1500 Flow Switch, Circle 81 on Reader Service Card . t 4L •F Hope/Progressive Yard Delivers Patrol Boat To Bolivian Navy The 67-foot patrol boat Santa Cruz de la Sierra (shown above) was christened at a recent ceremony held at the Hope/Progressive ship- yard in Houma, La. The new vessel, ordered by the Naval Forces of the Republic of Bolivia, was built under contract with Napco International Inc. of Minneapolis. Napco is an international marketing firm that supplies a full line of defense- related products to the U.S. Govern- ment and the governments of more than 60 nations around the world. Hope/Progressive is an established group of companies specializing in offshore fabrication of structures, oilfield equipment, living quarters, and high-performance aluminum vessels. The ceremony included a Cath- olic Mass celebrated by Father Timbre of St. Francis de Sales Church, followed by the blessing of the vessel's flags, emblem, and crew. Title to the vessel was handed over to the commanding officer, Capt. Marco Antonio Justiniano, by Joseph Jany, treasurer of Napco International, as flags were raised and the Bolivian National Anthem played over the vessel's public ad- dress system. The festivities coincided with Dias de la Armada—Navy Day of Bolivia. "This event is of great sig- nificance to Bolivia," said Captain Justiniano. "It is an historical landmark for our Navy because it is the first patrol boat of this size and category," he stated. The new patrol boat, built of high-strength aluminum, is a unique design specified by the Bolivian Navy, and incorporates the latest technology and state-of-the-art electronic equipment. It will operate in rivers, protecting Bolivia's bor- ders, and in drug interdiction duty. The captain and his nine-man crew are delivering the vessel. After leaving Houma he will travel south- west through the Gulf of Mexico, along the coast of South America, and upon entering the River Plate in Argentina will proceed by river to Bolivia. The total distance to be covered is more than 6,000 miles, and with stopovers is estimated to last approximately 50 days. The captain and his engineers were well satisfied with the quality of the vessel and its performance. They consider their experience dur- ing the sea trials as very significant. This should assure the continuity of relations between the Bolivian Navy and the American companies that participated in the project. SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA List of Suppliers Main propulsion . . . .(2) Detroit Diesel Generators (2) Detroit Diesel Clutches ) Twin Disc Propellers ... (2) Michigan Dyna Quad Alarm system .... E.M.T. Electronics Radar Furuno VHF/FM Cybernet Fathometer Empulse Loud Hailer Cybernet Sound-powered telephones Hose McCann Paint System Glidde Air Conditioning Carrier Blackmer Pump Offers New Marine And Special Products Bulletin A new eight-page bulletin by Blackmer Pump Division of Dover Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich., presents their full line of rotary positive displacement, sliding vane pumps for military, marine and spe- cialized industrial applications. In- cluded are pumps specifically de- signed for bilge, feed water, lube oil, liquid service, transfer and strip- ping applications. In addition to a description of the unique Blackmer design and operat- ing features, the bulletin contains illustrated sections on individual pump series ranging in capacity from 5 to 730 gpm (0.19 to 2763 liters/minute) with operating pres- sures to 210 psi (14.7 kg/cm2)- The features and options of each pump series are described and per- formance charts and materials of construction are provided along with available unit mounting ar- rangements and drive styles. For further information and a copy of "Blackmer Positive Dis- placement Pumps for Military, Ma- rine and Industrial Applications," Circle 28 on Reader Service Card 38 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
