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GULF COAST REPORT because of the strain imposed on the inland- 77-year-old lock showed its age in its first dewa- each locking. The project's $6 million included $4 million for dewatering and regi repairs. The reminder was for design, coord) tion and emergency repair. Equipment i brought in from as far away as the Corps' R Island (111.) District, which lent one of two c rick barges employed. Ingalls Flexes Commercial Am With considerable Navy construction still its way, Ingalls' latest commercial deal (fo multipurpose jackup boats for Searex) com less than a year after it won a major coup on tl Gulf by taking a $152 million order from Edist Chouest Offshore for the construction of up 36 deepwater OSVs. According to Ingalls vice-president of publ: and industrial relations, D.F. Knecht, thes boats are being popped out at the rate of one month, with several already delivered. Although Ingalls has always been a stronj Navy builder over its history, commercial con struction has certainly not been left out. During World War II, in its original facilities on the east bank of the Pascagoula River, Ingalls pro- duced troop ships for the Navy, as well as escort aircraft carriers, submarine tenders and net layers. After the war, Ingalls built amphibious assault ships, destroyers and, beginning in the 1950s, attack submarines, but in the late 1950s it also launched significant commercial passen- ger tonnage, including twins Brazil and Argentina for Moore McCormack Line and more utilitarian Atlantic for American Banner Lines. The latter, a tourist class ship, was convert- ed out of old C4 freighter Badger Mariner. In addition, Ingalls finished three passenger- carrying freighters for Delta Lines, Del Mar, Del Norte and Del Sur. By working closely with computer designers and manufacturers, Ingalls has developed an advanced, proficient three-dimensional comput- er-aided design (CAD) system for the shipbuild- ing/marine production industry. The design process for ships built at Ingalls is accom- plished using a CAD system, which is linked with an integrated computer-aided manufac- turing (CAM) production network of host-based computers and localized minicomputers located through the shipyard. Because of these investments in new tech- nology, Ingalls has emerged as the leading designer and builder of five of the U.S. Navy's newest classes of surface combatants, including Spruance and Kidd class destroyers, Tarawa and Wasp class amphibious assault ships, and Ticonderoga class Aegis missile cruisers. In addition to the Wasp class, Ingalls is one of two domestic shipyards currently building Arleigh Burke class Aegis guided missile destroyers. These 505 ft., 8,850 displacement ton ships are powered by four gas turbine jet engines that can drive the vessels in speeds in excess of 30 knots. waterway industry by a 60-day closure," said Col. William L. Conner, district engineer of the New Orleans District. More than 60 members of the district's Operations Division, drawn in from all across south Louisiana, worked 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts. The project began July 27, so most of the work was done in the worst of the summer's heat at the bottom of a 55-ft. deep chamber. The tering and major overhaul in 20 years. Concrete was replaced in portions of the 640 x 75 ft. chamber, and in four of the eight valves used to drain and fill it. Six of the lock's 10 gates, built around 1920, were removed for sandblasting and replace- ment of weak spots in their 250-ton steel struc- tures. New seals were installed, as were pintles, the supports upon which the gates pivot for For centuries, sailors found stars to guide them. 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