The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Nenana, Alaska Stern-wheeler for Freight, Passengers By Robert C. Hill Yukon rivers, as a unit of the Alaska Railroad’s transportation system, the stern-wheel shallow draft steamer NrNANA was launched at Nenana, Alaska, May 18. Not only is the vessel of unusual type but the conditions under which she was con- structed are out of the ordinary. The new stern-wheeler replaces the smaller steamers ALICE and GENERAL Jacops and will furnish freight and passenger service between Nenana and Marshall. The former is on the Ta- nana river which about 100 miles be- low joins the mighty Yukon, the dis- tance thence to destination being about 600 miles additional. Operation is possible only during the short sum- ‘mer. The rivers present many obsta- cles and dangers. Shifting channels, Fv service on the Tanana and sharp turns, swirling eddies and in places lack of draft are conditions which must be overcome. The NENANA was designed with this in view. While it would have been possible to send the vessel completed by water to Alaska, the Alaska railroad de- sired to furnish employment in the territory. Consequently the materials were shipped from Seattle to Seward by regular steamship line, thence transported 450 miles over the Alaska railroad to Nenana. Here the craft was assembled and completed. It was stipulated that all labor, except that of skilled mechanics and foremen, must be performed by residents of the territory. Considering the distance material and equipment had to be transported and the fact that much of the construction was done in ex- tremely cold weather in the sub-arctic, the feat was a difficult one. 20 Ww. Cc. Nickum, Seattle naval ar- chitect, designed the vessel and pre- pared all the detailed working draw- ings, keeping in mind the peculiar re- quirements of the river service. The completed craft is ideally suited to the route, according to government officials. The architect’s task was to plan a vessel of specified freight and passenger capacity, on a limited draft, at the same time keeping within des- ignated cost limits. The general contract was awarded to the Berg Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, on a low bid of $131,126. The com- pleted vessel represents an investment of about $175,000. Work was started July 15, 1932, and materials were supplied as needed, although most of the equipment was forwarded before winter began. By September the hull was well along and when cold weather came the job was enclosed. Work was continued during the win- ter, frequently with the temperature more than 40 degrees below. A steam line was run in the main deck and to the saloon deck so that the men Stern wheel river . steamer Nenana on the building ways at Nenana, Alaska. Mate- rial for buwild- ing and equip- ment shipped from Seattle Alaska railroad steamer Ne- nana now im service, on trial run on the Ta- nana river, Alaska. Her run is between Nenana and Marshall, a dis- cance 07. 100 miles MARINE REVIEW—July, 1933 worked in comparative comfort. The river ice moved out on May 8 but to avoid ice floes the NENANA was not sent into the water until ten days later, completed, ready for service. Principal dimensions are: Length overall, 237 feet; length between per- pendiculars, 210 feet; beam, 42 feet; depth 6 feet; draft, 3 feet 6 inches. There are accommodations for 54 pas- sengers, in 27 staterooms. The ves- sel’s light draft. is 22 inches mean. With 300 tons of cargo the draft is 3 feet 6 inches forward and 3 feet aft. Hull and upperworks were built to the approval of the American Bureau of Shipping as were also the machin- ery and auxiliaries. Materials were surveyed and approved in Seattle by the bureau. The Nenana ig fully equipped to conform with United States steamboat inspection service requirements. The hull was laid down parallel to the river on a site between the Alaska railroad tracks and the railroad’s ma- rine ways, timbers being extended from the ways under the hull. At the time of launching the wedges were knocked out and the vessel glided smoothly across the ways sideway on batter boards running along the greased skids. While some of the material was fabricated and prepared prior to ship- ment, much of it was cut to measure and finished on the job. The hull is of Douglas fir and the superstructure of spruce and cedar. Above the main deck the house framing and deck beams are fir sheathed with cedar. The house ceiling is of three-ply ve- neer and the stateroom and saloon bulkheads are of five-ply veneer. The thwartship bulkheads are solid pieces of five-ply veneer, giving exceptional strength to the entire structure. Because of the abundance of fire- wood and the high cost of coal or fuel oil, the NENANA was designed to burn spruce and birch cordwood. The boiler is of locomotive type, 25 feet 5 inches in length overall, and is designed for steam at 225 pounds per square inch working pressure and 100 degrees Fahr. superheat. The superheater, with 78-inch drum, was supplied by the