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Dedication ceremonies were recently held at Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La., for the USNS Altair. The vessel is the second of three Fast Sealift Ships being converted from SL-7 container ships by the yard. Fast Sealift Ship USNS Altair Dedicated At Avondale Industries Shipyard Division Another of the U.S. Navy's T- AKR Class of Fast Sealift Ships, the USNS Altair, was dedicated at Avondale recently and was deliv- ered ahead of schedule. The USNS Altair (T-AKR-291) is the second of its class to be dedi- cated at Avondale. It was converted from a Sea-Land (SL-7) commercial containership. A sister ship, the USNS Antares (T-AKR-294), was converted by the shipyard and de- livered in July 1984. A third ship, to be named USNS Pollux (T-AKR- 290), is currently being converted at Avondale for delivery in March. The T-AKR Class vessels are among the largest and fastest auxiliary supply ships in the Navy. The principal speaker at the ren- aming ceremony was U.S. Represen- tative Robert L. Livingston (R- La.) of the 1st Congressional Dis- trict. The Congressman's wife, Bonnie, was the ship's sponsor. Others participating in the dedica- tion were U.S. Navy Capt. Paul D. Hurst, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, New Orleans; Albert L. Bossier Jr., president and chief executive officer, Avondale; Eugene E. Shoults, Program Manager, pms Principals at the christening of the USNS Altair were (L to R): Congressman Robert L. Livingston (R-La); Mrs. Robert L. Livingston, sponsor of the vessel; Richard Brunner, senior vice president and senior operating officer—Avondale Shipyards; Monsignor John Bendix; Wallace Sansone, project manager PMS 377; Capt. Paul D. Hurst. USN, Supervisor Shipbuilding—New Orleans; Eugene E. Shoults. program manager PMS 377, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Miss Brandy Ann Jackson, flower girl. 377, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Richard F. Brunner, senior vice president, Avondale. Monsignor John Bendix of St. Matthew the Apostle Church deliv- ered the invocation. Miss Brandy Ann Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Jackson, was the flower girl for the ceremony. Mr. Jackson is superintendent of rigging at the shipyard. Traditionally, the flower girl is a daughter of an Avondale employee. Music for the occasion was provided by the Grace King High School Band. The mission of the USNS Altair and the other T-AKR Class ships is the rapid transport of military equipment and vehicles to any area in the world. The ship will carry tanks, jeeps, armored personnel car- riers, helicopters and other wheeled equipment. The USNS Altair, which success- fully completed sea trials in Sep- tember, is 944 feet long with a beam of 105 Vi feet, a depth of 66 feet, and a draft of 36 feet 8 inches. Displace- ment is 55,400 long tons and she is powered by two steam turbine plants of 60,000 shp per plant. Her service speed with full cargo under- way is 33 knots. Some of the major elements of Avondale's conversion of the SL-7 ships into T-AKR ships include the addition of several decks for vehicle and cargo stowage; a flight deck with a helicopter landing platform; two side-ports with hinged plat- forms and a portable ramp; restruc- turing of the cargo holds to carry containers, seasheds (open contain- ers) and flat racks; and installation of twin cranes fore and aft, a new fuel system, and expanded fire pro- tection. The Shipyard Division is the larg- est group of Avondale Industries, Inc., a new corporation created re- cently under an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESPO). The new cor- poration is a diversified company with manufacturing facilities oper- ating in the major markets of ship- building and metals. Balehi Marine Christens Twin-Screw Harbor Utility Boat The twin-screw harbor utility boat Pelican, was recently chris- tened by Balehi Marine Inc. of La- combe, La., for the vessel's owner Martin Marietta at a NASA slip. The ceremonies were attended by Mike Gnau, project engineer; Guy Keller, contract administrator; J.S. Checkan, chief engineer; Bill Knodles, harbor master; Kenny Miller, project engineer; Jay Heitzman; and Doug Fogg, pro- ject engineer, all representing Mar- tin Marietta/NASA. Also in atten- dance were Balehi Marine represen- tatives, David P. Levy, designer; Donald Arroyo, president; Den- nis Frantz, vice president, sales & administration; and Donna Dun- negan. The Pelican has an overall length of 35 feet, width of 13 feet, depth of 5 feet 6 inches and normal operating draft of 3 feet 6 inches. The vessel is powered by a GM671, which produces 174 hp at 1,800 rpm. She will be used to shift barges at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, La. For further information and de- tailed literature on Balehi Marine Inc., Circle 19 on Reader Service Card PELICAN Major Suppliers Main Engine GM Reduction Gears Twin Disc Propellers Columbian Bronze Steering System Hynautic Radio Equipment Motorola Depth Finder Simrad Searchlights Perko Air Horn Seatone Shafts & Rudder Stocks . . . Aquamet Clutch & Throttle Controls Morse Fire Monitor Elkhart Fire Extinguisher Halon Pilothouse Windows Kearfott Engine Gauges & Instruments Stuart Warner Bilge Pumps . . . Jabsco 16 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
