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The Spirit, shown above, was converted from a 96-foot aluminum crewboat to a 149- passenger whale watch/excursion vessel. Master Marine Responds To Change In The Shipbuilding Market With Vessel Conversions Master Marine, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently converted a 96- foot aluminum crewboat to a 149- passenger whale watch/excursion vessel for Barnstable Whale Watch Tours Inc., Barnstable, Mass. The vessel, named Spirit, was converted in just under eight weeks. Work consisted of installation of three main engines and one genera- tor, with special spiral design Cowl mufflers from Canada, chosen be- cause of their compact size and ease of installation in the engine room. Conversion work entailed fabrica- tion of a 35-foot extended deck- house with two bathrooms in the stern, full service snack bar, cush- ioned benches and tables. Interior finishing incorporated the use of fiberglass reinforced plastic pan- eling on the walls, which is very dur- able and will not rot and fade like wood paneling. Four sliding doors make way for easy passenger access. Handrails with safety screens on the main deck and the topdeck make it safe for families to view the beauty of the ocean. A bow pulpit was con- structed for sighting of marine life. Additional work consisted of the hookup of all piping systems and electrical lighting throughout, in- stallation of a public address sys- tem, and sandblasting and the painting of the vessel. Master Marine recently extended the University of Texas's research vessel Longhorn with a 20-foot mid- body section. This addition pro- vided a new equipment room, in- creased the living accommodations, lengthened two laboratories and al- lowed the building of a spacious new pilothouse complete with crew quar- ters. Included in the work was the con- struction of two new bottom tanks for fresh water and the installation of a central A.C. unit servicing three separate levels simultaneously. With the move of the main deck crane to the fo'c'sle deck, a new working area along with space for two deck boats was accomplished. Finally, to insure safety and im- prove working conditions, the gen- erators were mounted on isolators with exhaust and hydraulic equip- ment, all sound engineered. Exhaust and engine noise was a major concern on the Longhorn. To solve this problem Maxim M31 ex- haust silencers with MSA1 spark arresting mufflers from Riley Beaird were installed to the main engines and generators exhaust sys- tem. In the engine room, Soundown 2 LB lead and foam sound absorp- tion was installed. Other items in- cluded aluminum framed windows from Wynne Enterprises, Red Fox MSD, and Village Marine fresh water maker. Air conditioning units are Lennox Evaporators with heat coils. The University vessel can now provide extended trips for research teams numbering 14. With complete navigation facilities and experi- enced crew, the Longhorn is ready for oceanographic research. The Comanche, a 16-year-old shrimp trawler was converted to a Hondurian lobster vessel. The work entailed installation of a plate freez- er system in the fishhold, and new hydraulics. A pot hauler and cap- stan were added and the rigging was changed to accommodate lobster pots. There was miscellaneous steel renewal throughout and the pilot- house and galley were refurbished. Other work recently completed were two Coast Guard contracts for Newport News Yard Lays Keel For Carrier 'George Washington' The recent keel laying for the George Washington (CVN-73), which will be the Navy's sixth Nim- itz Class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, marked two firsts in New- port News Shipbuilding's 100-year history. The placement of the Washing- ton's 730-ton keel section in Ship- way #12 represents the first time two aircraft carriers will be assem- bled simultaneously in a single ship- way. Ship way #12 is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is currently under construction in the inboard section and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in 1990. NNS vice president John Gra- ham said that prior to the launch- ing of the Lincoln, the partially completed Washington will be wa- tertight and able to be floated out of the outboard end of the shipway. After the Lincoln is floated out of the shipway, the Washington will be brought back into the shipway for completion, and repositioned on the same keel blocks that supported the Lincoln. This procedure will mark another first for us, he said. The Washington's keel laying represents a continuation of the modular construction techniques Newport News uses to build aircraft carriers. "We've learned many les- sons from building the Theodore Roosevelt," Mr. Graham said, "and we will continue to improve on efficiencies as we progress on both the Lincoln and the Washington." Extensive use of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) are credited for building cur- rent aircraft carriers faster than previous carriers. Modular con- struction techniques and the greater super lift capability of the ship- yard's 900-ton-capacity gantry crane that spans the shipway, are also responsible for the anticipated earlier deliveries. Nimitz Class carriers are 1,092 feet long and carry a 6,000-man crew and about 100 aircraft. They have a 4 Vz -acre flight deck and are approximately 24 stories high from keel to mast top. Newport News Shipbuilding constructed all three of the Nimitz Class carriers current- ly in the Fleet. A fourth ship of the class, the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), is scheduled for delivery to the Navy later this year. For free color literature from Newport News Shipbuilding on their shipbuilding and ship repair- ing services and facilities, Circle 63 on Reader Service Card Falmouth Shiprepair Offers Free Color Brochure On Facilities And Services Falmouth Shiprepair, Ltd., a joint venture of Bellway pic. and A&P Appledore Group pic., is offering a free color brochure on its yard ser- vices and facilities located at Fal- mouth, England. According to the brochure, Fal- mouth shipyard has a tradition of first class service to shipowners that stretches back to 1894. Located in the world's third largest natural harbor adjoining the shipping lanes to Northern Europe, the yard is said to offer ideal climatic conditions and exceptional deepwater facilities at a convenient location to shipown- ers. The color publication, which is divided into six brief comprehensive sections, details the dimensions of the yard's four large drydocks, 2Vi kilometers of berths, engineering and auxiliary shops, along with tank cleaning, painting and towing ser- vices. Falmouth's free enterprise port, oil base and fisheries are also touched upon. Accompanying color photographs and drawings of the yard and its surroundings supplement the text. For your free copy of this Fal- mouth brochure, Circle 103 on Reader Service Card drydock and repairs to the cutter White Holly and the Axe & Barge. With conversion of steel and alu- minum vessels, drydocking and re- pairs, and new construction, Master Marine proves once again that it can respond to the changing markets in the shipbuilding industry. For free brochures detailing the conversion services offered by Mas- ter Marine, Circle 83 on Reader Service Card u cc |Qr U. G cfl 03 U 03 F-i ss o >> a Qh 03 03 Yes please, send more information! Mail this coupon to MFftft/OfilK M S-612 20 Finspong, Sweden MR Name Company Dept Address City Country or use the reader enquiry service. Circle 107 on Reader Service Card October, 1986 11
