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Latest Data on New Marine Work Information on New Ships Ordered—Building and Repair Con- tracts Let—Shipping Board Loans Made, Authorized or Pending REVIEW a summary was given of the bids received Nov. 14 by the United States coast guard for the con- struction of four steel hull diesel elec- tric cutters. It will be recalled that the esti- mates submitted for two and four boats by the United States navy yard, Charleston, S. C., were lower than any of the firm bids received from private shipyards. The navy yard estimates for two boats and for four boats, per boat, are respectively, $245,153 and $235,953. The near- est firm bids from private yards were Wallace Bridge & Structural Steel Co., Seattle, Wash., at $264,150 for each of two boats, with no bids on four boats; and Consolidated Ship- building Corp., Morris Heights, N. Y., for two and four respectively, $273,175 and $257,741 per boat. On Dec. 8, a notice issued by the United States coast guard stated: “The estimate of the navy depart- ment submitted by the Charleston navy yard, Charleston, S. C., for the construction of four coast guard har- bor cutters, being satisfactory, has been approved.’’ From this it is understood that award for the construction of these four harbor cutters for the United States coast guard has been made to the United States navy yard, Charles- ton, S: C. These cutters will be 110 feet, 6 [* THE December issue of MARINE inches in length overall; 24 feet in\ molded beam; 12 feet, 7 inches in molded depth amidships. The maxi- mum draft will be about 10 feet, 6 inches, and the displacement fully loaded will be about 290 tons. They are to be propelled by single screws with diesel electric machinery of 800 shaft horsepower in two units. Bids on Two Ocean Tankers The Standard Vacuum Transporta- tion Co., New York, N. J. Pluymert, naval architect, on Dec. 18, was to re- ceive bids for building two single screw diesel tankers of about 15,000 tons each. It is understood that these tankers are to be generally similar to the tanker BrinniANt completed for the same owner by the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Nov. 17, 1930. Propelling machinery for the tanker BRILLIANT was one Sun Doxford, op- posed piston, oil engine of two cycle type and four cylinders. At 80 revo- 26 lutions per minute the brake horse- power at the shaft is 2800. General particulars of the BRILLIANT are length overall, 497 feet, 10 inches; length between perpendiculars, 480 feet, 6 inches; beam molded, 65 feet, 9 inches; depth molded, 37 feet; draft, 27 feet, 2 inches; displacement loaded, 19,160 tons; gross tonnage, 9078; net tonnage, 5528; deadweight, 13,430 tons; and speed, 11 knots. Bids on Tanker, Barge The Gulf Refining Co. has received bids for the construction of one 255- foot 15,000-barrel capacity, self-pro- pelled tanker of canal type. Bids have also been received for the construc- tion of one non-propelled oil barge of canal type to be 205 feet long; 39 feet wide; and 12 feet molded depth. Both welded and riveted construction are being considered. As this is written no definite action has been taken in placing orders for this new construction. It is expected that a decision will be made either just before or shortly after the new year. United States Engineers On Dec. 14 the United States En- gineer office, Memphis, Tenn., re- ceived bids for the construction of a wooden hull quarter boat to have a length overall of 72 feet; beam, 16 feet; depth at side, 4 feet 6 inches; and draft, 1 foot 3 inches. On Dec. 18 notice was received from the United States Engineer of- fice, Vicksburg, Miss., that plans and specifications would soon be issued for the construction of one channel and snag boat complete with a mold- ed length of 170 feet, molded beam, 38 feet and depth molded, 7 feet 6 inches. Full information may be received from the United States Engineer of- fice, Vicksburg, Miss., Major Luns- ford E. Oliver, corps of engineers. Pearl Harbor Repair Yard A new ship repair basin is to be constructed for the United \States navy department at the navy yard, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu. This plant is to have a capacity for accommo- dating seven major war vessels un- MARINE REvIEw—January, 1934 der repairs at one time. It is the largest shore facility undertaken by the navy since the World war. Con- tract for its construction was award- ed to the Hawaiin Dredging Co., Honolulu, at a cost of $2,789,600, not including cranes and other equip- ment. Plans for the new ship repair basin eall for the construction of a pier 144 feet long and 100 feet wide; two side quay walls, 1244 feet and 794 feet long respectively; also, head quay walls forming two slips 300 feet and 322 feet wide. The Star Iron & Steel Co., Ta- coma, Wash., has been awarded con- tract at $257,580 for furnishing four cranes for this repair basin. One of these cranes is to operate on special tracks on the quay walls and pier and is to have a capacity of 50 tons at 90-foot reach; the other three cranes are to have a capacity of 15 tons at 85-foot reach. A station- ary crane on the west quay wall on special foundation is also to be in- stalled with a capacity of 200 tons at 85-foot reach. Navy Contracts to Sperry On Dee. 11 the Sperry Gyroscope Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., received con- tracts from the United States navy, amounting to $452,000 for gyro compasses for installation on the cruisers, aircraft carriers, gunboats, destroyers, and submarines, under construction in the new navy pro- gram. Gyro-compasses are used on all navy ships today because of their accuracy. Another distinct advantage of the gyro-compass is that readings of the master compass can be trans- mitted electrically to repeater com- passes in as many as 40 locations throughout the ship. This character- istic of transmission of readings also makes possible the recording of the vessel’s course, as well as steering the ship automatically. On the same day the Sperry Gyro- scope Co. also received orders from the United States navy totaling $291,000 for 36-inch high intensity 350,000,000 beam candle power searchlights for installation on the new vessels now under construction. These high powered gearchlights are equipped with shutters for sig- nalling and are also used in locating the position of airplanes in flight, or of other ships at sea.