View non-flash version
After a 20-month, $120-million conversion, MPS Pvt. Harry Fisher heads down Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic. Ship is one of five Maersk Line vessels reconstructed by Bethlehem— three at Sparrows Point and two at Beaumont Yard under a $600-million U.S. Navy con- tract. Sparrows Point Yard Delivers Third Maersk MPS Conversion The last vessel in a three-year, three-ship reconstruction program at Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point Yard near Balti- more was renamed the Pvt. Harry Fisher by Congresswoman Helen D. Bentley (R-Md.), guest of honor and sponsor at the christening cere- monies. Formerly named the Evelyn Maersk and and a part of the Maersk Line fleet until she entered the yard in February 1984, the ship is named to honor a U.S. Marine Corps hero of the Boxer Rebellion who was killed in 1900 while defend- ing the American Legation in Pe- king, China. Pvt. Fisher was pos- thumously awarded the Congres- sional Medal of Honor. The ship will be part of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MPS) Program under the Military Sealift Command, and will be operated by Maersk Line Lim- ited of New York. As such, she will be stationed in potential trouble spots around the world and carry part of the equipment and supplies for a Marine Corps Amphibious Bri- gade. To meet the requirements of the MPS program, the yard separated the vessel amidship and added a 157-foot-long midsection, extending her length to 755 feet. Her depth was changed with the addition of two deck levels, increasing the keel- to-deck depth by nearly 16 feet— from 54 to almost 70 feet. Doing this required the alteration of three ex- isting decks—first, main, and up- per. These expansions provided more cargo hold cubic space for a third set of 36-ton-capacity twin Hagglunds cranes, and a new 80-man deck- house for "surge" crews during peri- odic loading and unloading. The normal crew complement will be about 65, composed of civilian and MSC personnel. Other major additions included new ramps, fuel tanks, repair shops, and a helicopter landing platform aft. Bethlehem was able to improve productivity by pre-outfitting many of the new modular units with pip- ing, cable ways, and machinery be- fore lifting them into place aboard the ship. Reconstruction statistics, with the new 755-foot overall length and 69-foot 10V2-inch depth, include a NKF Engineering Expands With Acquisition Of Two Additional Firms NKF Engineering, Inc. of Reston, Va., recently acquired two small companies to expand its capabilities in serving U.S. government and commercial clients. The firm has purchased the Marine Engineering and Design Division of Halifax En- gineering of Norfolk. This 24-person group has been renamed the Craft Engineering and Design Division of NKF, and will remain at its Norfolk location to continue to serve U.S. Navy customers in the design of small craft. NKF has also acquired control- ling interest in System Enhance- ment Services Company of Crystal City (Arlington), Va., which has be- come a subsidiary of NKF and con- sists of 28 employees who provide U.S. Navy and commercial custom- ers with technical support services in ship design, ship systems engi- neering, and program management. NKF is a small business concern that serves U.S. Government and commercial clients in analysis, re- search, test, and operational sup- port of naval vessels and programs. The corporate staff consists of some 200 scientists, engineers, and man- agement professionals. The compa- ny has branch offices in Crystal City and field offices in Columbia, Md., Philadelphia, and San Diego. New Terry Turbine Offers Low-Cost Maintenance —Literature Available Terry Steam Turbine has an- nounced a new single-stage turbine for applications up to 50 hp, incor- porating a unique "back-pullout" feature which assures minimal maintenance expense, according to William L. Wathen, Terry presi- dent. Called GLT-260, the small tur- bine meets the longevity require- ments of API 611, and includes Ter- ry's unique rotating parts assembly design, affording the proven main- tenance simplicity of back pullout pumps. "This provides remarkable convenience, and maintenance time savings," Mr. Wathen said. Other GLT-260 features include: Terry's proven cantilevered, solid- wheel design; oil-free lubricating system; innovative governor valve, and tight shut-off trip valve; compo- nent standardization; steel casing, and stainless steel glands. With one packing box, GLT-260's gland maintenance costs are cut in half. Also corrosion and erosion problems—common in iron or car- bon steel gland boxes—are mini- mized with use of stainless steel. The unit's high temperature ball bearings are sealed and grease- packed, eliminating the need for lube oil, related maintenance costs, and cooling water. Bearing life is L- 10, in excess of 50,000 hours. Standard governor provided with the GLT-260 is a Woodward TG-13. Terry Steam Turbine's new single-stage tur- bine for applications up to 50 hp. "Its high-level performance and ex- cellent maintenance record help as- sure long, trouble-free service," Mr. Wathen commented. GLT-260 turbines are available in inlet pressures and temperature rat- ings to 650 psig (45.7KG/CM2) and 750F (399C), and back pressures to 75 psig (5.3 KG/CM2). Terry Steam Turbine, headquar- tered in Windsor, Conn., is a compo- nent of Ingersoll Rand Worldwide, with other manufacturing facilities in Niantic, Conn.; Germany; Mexi- co; and Canada. For further literature containing full information, Circle 61 on Reader Service Card of potable water, and 615,083 gal- lons of fuel oil. The MPS program was proposed by the Secretary of Defense in 1979 as a new option for increasing the responsiveness of Marine Corps forces requiring immediate and rap- id deployment. In response to a con- tingency or actual crisis, equipment aboard the ships will be unloaded and then joined with air-trans- ported Marine Amphibious Brigade personnel. Self-deployed tactical aircraft would rapidly complete the emplacement of the brigade in an operational area. displacement of 28,249 long tons and a 32-foot 10 -inch full-load draft. The Fisher's diesel engine propul- sion plant will provide a speed of 17.5 knots operating at 85 percent of maximum continuous rating. The main engine is a Sulzer 7RND76M with a mcr of 15,960 bhp at 112 rpm. On-board capabilities include 120,000 square feet for vehicles, space for 313 ammunition and re- frigerated cargo containers, 1.3 mil- lion gallons of drummed and bulk petroleum products, 84,933 gallons Rep. Helen D. Bentley, member of Congress from Maryland, was sponsor of the Pvt. Harry Fisher. Shown with her at the ceremony are (L to R): Commo. Richard F. Donnelly, MSC commander; David Watson, general manager of Sparrows Point yard; Birger Jurgensen, president and COO, Maersk Line, Limited; David H. Klinges. vice president of Bethlehem's Marine Construction Group; and Lt. Gen. George B. Crist, chief of staff, U.S. Marine Corps. 10 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
