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Precast Concrete Keel Blocks Offer Advantages To Shipyards Marine dock blocks made of pre- cast concrete offer several major advantages to the shipbuilder as compared to other materials, accord- ing to San Diego Precast Concrete, Inc., Santee, Calif. The Southern California producer of the precast concrete keel blocks says that because the blocks are manufactured in a carefully con- trolled environment, each unit can be made to the most demand- ing specifications, matching the exact shape and configuration of a ship's contour. The blocks, used to support a vessel's keel during construction or repair, are made to meet the requirements of the U.S. Navy, San Diego Precast Concrete, Inc.'s largest customer. San Diego Precast Concrete sup- plies its marine dock blocks to ship- yards along the Pacific Coast, Ha- waii, and the Gulf Coast. The heavily reinforced blocks, are stacked and cribbed inside the drydock to match the exact shape of a ship's hull. The blocks are made to handle any type and size ship. For free literature detailing pre- cast concrete blocks from San Diego Precast Concrete, Inc., Circle 82 on Reader Service Card New Oil Spill Rules Proposed By Coast Guard The U.S. Coast Guard has re- cently proposed oil spill regulations that would require all tankers in U.S. waters to develop oil spill re- sponse plans and have them in place by the middle of 1993, as required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Coast Guard-approved response plans must encompass every pos- sible oil spill contingency, including a "worst-case" spill in which a tanker's entire cargo is lost during adverse weather conditions. In Prince William Sound, Alaska, owners or operators would have to achieve a greater margin of safety. They would have to provide escort vessels with skimming capability and establish, man, equip, train and exercise an oil spill removal organi- zation. The new regulations would pro- hibit any vessel from handling, stor- ing or transporting oil after Febru- ary 18, 1993, unless the owner or operator has submitted a response plan to the Coast Guard for approval. Ships must be operating in compli- ance with the approved plan by Au- gust 18, 1993. Vessels would be allowed to operate for two years, pending approval of their plans, if the owners or operators had, under contract, cleanup personnel and equipment adequate to handle a worst-case spill. House Approves 1993 CG Budget The U.S. Coast Guard's $3.6 bil- lion budget request for fiscal year 1993, which begins on October 1st, was recently approved by the House of Representatives. However, Representative W.J. Tauzin (D-La.), chairman of the subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation, reported that congres- sional appropriations committees are planning an $87 million cut in the Coast Guard's $2.6 billion oper- ating budget and an additional $20 million cut in its acquisition and construction budget. In the event that the cuts pro- ceed, "you will see decommissioning of ships, you will see closure of search and rescue stations and air stations. You will see closure and consolida- tion of marine safety offices. And you will see major delays in the implementation of the prepositioning of equipment and supplies to combat oil spills," said Rep. Tauzin. The U.S. Maritime Administration's (MarAd) 1993 bud- get request of276.8 million was ap- proved by the House Merchant Ma- rine and Fisheries Committee and now awaits the results of federal budget appropriations. While most of MarAd's budget will go to its Ready Reserve Force of inactive merchant ships, $38 mil- lion is earmarked for the department's ship-construction loan-guarantee program. p moil my oc BSI ; ; ; ; !i nn SBflBZEn Aa % ) 7 8 9 X IX : Y IY ; Z IZ • ISBJ&: JEFFBOAT America's largest inland shipbuilder. P.O. Box 610, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130 Phone (812) 288-0200 Member, THE AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS, INC DESIGNED FOR SOLUTIONS. BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE 70 Circle 236 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
