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~RE RIG ® Electric driven tanker J. H. Smnror on trial trip off port of Baltimore / Build Diesel-Electric Driven : HE merchant marine of any na- tion is naturally divided into two broad classifications: First, those vessels which serve its domestic trade; second, the vessels which serve .its own overseas and foreign trade and as common carriers wherever they are needed for purposes of trade and communication. Geographical loca- tion, navigability of harbors, rivers and lakes, extent of territory and population, industrial development, and natural resources, have a direct and important influence in the need for vessels in both classifications of the merchant marine of any nation. America alone of all the great mari- time nations is so situated that the rapid growth of a merchant marine in both classifications is not only favored by natural conditions, but vitally necessary to her continued prosperity, progress and national. se- curity. Whatever the immediate fu- ture of this country may be with re- gard to its position in carrying its own foreign trade, the fact remains that with the present great scope of domestic enterprises and the poten- tial value of resources yet undevel- oped, a steady growth and expansion of all kinds of floating . equipment to move these products efficiently and economically on the inland waters, rivers, harbors, along the coasts and between the east and west coasts, may be looked forward to with con- fidence. Growth of Oil Trade Distribution of petroleum products in bulk by water routes has grown to tremendous proportions both in Overseas and domestic trade. A fleet of 48 tankers of 544,000 deadweight BY A. H. JANSSON tons owned and operated by the Stand- ard: Oil Co. of New Jersey, was used during 1923 in the transportation of crude oil from California, Mexico and Gulf ports to the Atlantic seaboard refineries. With ships belonging to subsidiary companies, included, the fleet aggregated 897,000 tons and add- ing. to this, chartered ships, the ton- nage was 1,100,000, the largest private- ly owned fleet flying the American flag and approximately one-seventh of the entire world’s tanker Replacements for and _ additions to such a fleet and the fleets of others engaged in the same business will, in its total, amount to a considerable shipbuilding program. This extensive activity of the oil industry in transportation is also of great help in the advancement of naval architecture and engineering as applied to commercial crafts of all types. The marine departments of such companies are entrusted with the important responsibility of meet- ing all problems of transportation by water in the most efficient manner possible from every point of view, and they are, therefore, receptive to new departures of merit, and funds are available for converting such ideas into practical form. ' The self-propelled barge J. Hz. SENIOR recently completed for the Stand- ard Oil Co. of New Jersey, described and illustrated in this article, deserves the widest interest on the part of all marine men as a concrete, practi- cal example of advanced engineer- ing principles. If the present and immediate future solution of engineer- ing problems involved in building the fleet necessary to carry our domestic 168 tonnage. ~ trade, lies as many enterprising en- gineers think in the increased use of the oil engine and electrical power, the pioneering work done in building two oil engined electric the Standard Oil Co. of California, the two. similarly powered vessels for the run from Duluth to New York for the McDougall Terminal Ware- house Co. and the J. H. Senior for the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey is of the greatest value to all those faced with the work of evolving particularly suitable, dependable and efficient types for such service. It is clear that the lessons learned from the results obtained in the op- eration of these vessels will help to create that sense of confidence so es- sential before much impetus can be hoped for in the adoption of compara- tively mew methods and consequently these companies deserve credit for their courage and enterprise. Description of Vessel The J. H. Senror, illustrated in the accompanying photographs is in every respect a miniature tanker, pro- pelled by a single screw driven by one electric motor, the current for which is generated by two oil engines direct-connected to generators. All of the essential particulars for both hull, motive power and auxiliaries will be found grouped together for con- venience of reference in the accom- Ppanying table. This vessel was es- pecially designed for service on Chesa- peake bay and its tributaries and she will be used for carrying gasoline and refined petroleum products in bulk from the refineries to local centers of distribution such as Richmond on the James river and Washington on Tanker barges by’ oT eee eee ee