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Test Giant Gate Lifter for New Welland Canal lock gate lifter of 500 tons capac- ity, capable of lifting the largest gate-leaf used in the new canal, were started on May 15, 1931, in the pres- ence of the Welland canal officials and representatives of the builders, the Collingwood Shipyards, Ltd., the Ca- nadian Westinghouse Co. and the Ca- nadian Allis-Chalmers Co., and also the Wellman Engineering Co., Cleve- land, from whose specifications and plans, this unique piece of equipment. was built. Tests prescribed by the canal engi- neers for ascertaining the stability of the floating mass, power consumption, reliability and control of power and movable water ballast, were per formed, easily meeting the specifica- tions in every particular. Two spare gate leaves were used in the tests so far conducted. The first gate—35 feet 6 inches high weighing 180 tons, and the second 44 feet 6 inches high weighing 230 tons, each gate being taken from a floating posi- tion and hoisted until the lifting eyes in the top of the gate were 56 feet above the water level. Numerous stops were made on the first trip, or lift, to shift the water ballast for the purpose of maintaining zero list and trim and also for record- ing the amount of water in each of the Te official tests of the mammoth eight ballast tanks as indicated by the mercury columns of the telegauges in the operator’s house. These records * will be tabulated for future reference of the operator when handling a gate in actual future service at the canal. It was demonstrated that the ballast pumps have ample capacity to main- tain Zero list and trim without stop- ping the hoist motion, or lowering mo- tion, when handling either the 180 or 230-ton gates. The slewing motion of the 25-ton auxiliary derrick was also tested and a record of the water ballast required was made with the load at 30 feet and 70 feet radius and 30 degrees either side of center which is the specified limit of slew and 95 feet radius on the center line which is the maximum reach. During all the tests there was an absence of smoke and exhaust steam which would obscure clear vision of the operator, and each and every piece of apparatus and control equipment functioned as intended without diffi- culty. It is planned to make the final tests in the handling of the largest gates which are 82 feet 0 inches high, 45 feet wide and of approximately 500 tons weight each. in the near future. The accompanying views were tak- en during the tests. A description of this gate lifter was published in the MaRINE Review issue of November, 1930, pages 65-66. Houston Adds New Shed to Its Port Equipment The Navigation commission, govern- ing body of Port Houston, Texas, will construct a modern steel shed behind MARINE REevieEw—July, 1931 concrete wharf No. 10 on the north side of the turning basin. The shed will be 125 feet wide and 580 feet long with clearance of 14 feet under the trusses. The structure will be supported on. a reinforced concrete dock. The shed will be equipped on each end with a road arrangement permitting trucks to have access at all times, regardless of the switching conditions at the plant, and in addi- tion to the roadways the depressed tracks will be available for car de- livery, as are the shipside tracks on the present concrete wharf. An un- usual feature of the shed will be its freedom from structural columns sup- porting the roof, the plans calling for columns under alternate trusses, the truss spacing being 20 feet. By the addition of this modern shed, the commission will add a much needed unit to the Houston: port equipment, and its design is calcu- lated to serve a diversified commerce. Every care has been exercised to make the shed available for any type of general commodity moving through the port and it is thought that the users of the wharf will find it an eco- nomical site for import and export operations. The truss spacing of 20 feet will greatly facilitate the handling of lengthy cargo. Pontoon crane of 500 tons capacity undergoing official tests beginning May 15, in the new Wel- land canal between Lakes Erie and Ontario. These views show the mammoth crane easily lifting one of the 230-ton lock gates. In the final tests the largest gates which are 82 feet high and 45 feet wide each ‘weighing about 500 tons, must be lifted. : This crane is for use in replacing tock gates in case of dam- age with spare gates floated and towed from the special dry dock where they are stowed. 41