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SS S SURGICAL operation, remark- able not only for the engineer- ing methods involved, but for the speed with which it was brought to a successful conclusion, was performed on May 27 at the plant of the Robins Dry Dock & Repair’ Co.,; Erie Basin, Brooklyn. On that date, the steamer L. V. StoppARD was cut in two, prepara- tory to adding 52 feet to her length, and converting her from a_ general freighter into a modern oil tanker. The steamer was cut amidships by burning out the rivets with oxy-acetylene torches; this operation required only 26 hours. The forward section was then advanced the 52 feet in 11 minutes, and the vessel was rebuilt and floated within izdays,.~-Phe first opefation;. after putting the ship in dock, was to sep- FIG. 1—MOVING FORWARD PORTION OP. iNe sl ODDARD LO: TEE 152- FOOT MARK BY MEANS OF STEAM WINCHES arate all pipe lines, electric wiring, steering gear, etc., after which the rivets were attacked with the oxy- acetylene flame. This method now is. used exclusively at the Rob- ins yard for removing rivets. The forward section was then separated from the after section by hydraulic pumps, after which the forward section was pulled to its marks by means of steam winches, the distance being gaged with great care, in order to insure cor- rect measurements in rebuilding. The cradle was next flooded with water in order to locate the ship fair on the blocks and on an even keel. L. V. Sropparp had a length of 246.7 feet and 43.8 foot beam. Her capacity was 2,306 tons. She was built at To- ledo, O., in 1913, for the Boston Vir- SS Q@ ({ \ YY LD j Ip Cut part SS x << So Y ZH) 4 Oxy-Acetylene ‘Toreh With <S FIG, 2—VIEW OF VESSEL AFTER SEPA- RATING FORWARD AND AFTER SECTIONS BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS ginia Transportation Co., and immedi- ately taken to the Atlantic; since that time her hailing port has been New York. She plied between Norfolk and Boston in the coal trade for some time, and also was in the sugar trade between the West Indies and Cuba to points south of Hatteras. Since the war broke out she has made several trips to European and Mediterranean ports. The addition of 52 feet. will add at least 1,000 tons to her capacity. Two sister ships will be cut apart and re- built. The work is directly in charge of W. H. Todd, president of the Rob- ins company, while his assistants on this job are George J. Robinson, vice president of the company, and Anthony McGarvey, superintendent. FIG. 3—CROSS SECTION OF FORWARD END AFTER REMOVAL TO 52-FOOT MARK AND PLACING IT FAIR ON THE WAYS 294