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Powerful River Towboat Completed Herbert Hoover Christened at Dubuque, la.—Twin Screw—Diesel Engine —Total Horsepower, 2200—Can Tow 10,000 Tons of Freight Up Stream HAT has been termed the WY sess river boat in the world was. christened the Hersert Hoover by Mrs. T. Q. Ash- burn at Dubuque, Iowa., on Aug. 15. This vessel is unique in her powerful main propulsion drive which consists of two diesel engines each developing 1100 brake horsepower and each direct connected to a propeller working in a partial tunnel. The vessel was built for the Inland Waterways Corp. by the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Co. After the christening the Hrrserr Hoover had her trial trip of two round trips over a seven-mile course. The trials were entirely successful and the boat will proceed down river to enter serv- ice between New Orleans and St. Louis. Major General T. Q. Ashburn, execu- tive head of the Inland Waterways Corp., announced that plans are now under way for two more diesel pow- ered towboats similar to the HERBERT Hoover and that these new boats will be named Huck Finn and Tom SAw- YER. Though specifications are under way for the two new boats, bids will not be asked until the Herpert HOOVER has been given thorough tests through- out the month of September. Good for Large Capacity Tow The new towboat is 226 feet 4% inches in length overall; 215 feet in length molded; 43 feet 6 inches in beam molded; 10 feet in depth at side; 2 feet 3 inches in sheer forward; 1 foot 1 inch in sheer aft. With 150 tons of bunker diesel fuel oil the draft is an even 6 feet. The camber in the beam of 43 feet 6 inches is 8 inches. The machinery space which is amidships is 58 feet long by 33 feet wide. In this space are located the two main diesel Twin Screw Diesel River Towboat Herbert Hoover—Total 22 00 Brake Horsepower—Built 30 engines each of 1100 brake horsepower. In one tow the new towboat is able to move 10,000 tons of freight at an average speed of more than four miles an hour upstream. In working out the plans for the Hersert Hoover under the general di- rection of -Major General T. Q. Ash- burn, every effort was made to mod- ernize all features of propulsion and hull construction in order to obtain the utmost in efficiency and in adaptability for river service under present-day conditions. First of all it was decided that the vessel must have ample pow- er to take care of a large profitable tow under all conditions. Next it was de- cided that this power must be devel- oped economically and with the least possible loss in transmission to the propellers. The chief feature of interest, there- fore, in this modern river towboat is her machinery. The main engines are full diesels built by McIntosh & Sey- mour Corp. One is right-hand and one left-hand. They are arranged in paral- lel and directly connected to the pro- peller shafts, giving a good spread to the propellers which work in partial tunnels, the stern transom of the ves- sel sealing the water to the tunnels. The engines are trunk piston, of 8- cylinders, four-cycle, air injection and have 20-inch bore and 24-inch stroke. At 200 revolutions per minute each en- gine develops 1100 brake horsepower or 1466 indicated horsepower. The maximum rating is 1300 brake horse- power at 230 revolutions per minute. The fuel consumption is estimated to be 0.41-pound of diesel fuel oil per brake horsepower per hour. Built on compact lines, these engines permit a minimum weight per horse- MARINE REvIEw—September, 1931 .versing is done by air rams. power for solid substantial construc- tion. The frame and cylinders are in one casting, making the en bloc type of construction. The base is also cast in one piece which in addition to serving as a seating for the main bearings pro- vides a convenient drip for lubricating oil. Oil cooling is used for the pistons, the oil being conducted to and from the pistons by swinging joints. These swinging joints connect to suitable headers, the oil running from the pistons being carried by the header to the sump tank rather than to the base. Both piston cooling and lubricating oil systems are combined in one and one sump tank is provided for the two. A motor driven lubricating oil pump takes the oil from the sump tank, forces it through a cooler, where the systems divide, one branch going to the piston cooling header and the other branch going through a reducing valve to the forced feed system. In this way all main bearings and connecting rod bearings are lubricated. Diesel Engines Direct Connected The engines are direct reversible and the engineer has complete control of both engines from one point. All maneuvering is done by two handles, one controlling the fuel and starting air, the other controlling the ahead or astern position of the» engine. Re- There are two of these rams and air for op- erating them is supplied from the maneuvering tank. The opposite side of each ram acts on an oil cushion and the speed of reversing is controlled by a valve which is introduced by an inter- connecting line between the two rams. By operating the reversing handle suitable air valves are opened admit- by Dubuque Boat and Boiler Co.