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Fuel Oil Price Increase Hits Vessel Operators The recent increase of 10 cents a barrel in the price of fuel oil for ves- sels, announced in New York on March 20, was scored by P. A. S. Franklin, president of the Interna- tional Mercantile Marine Co., as placing an additional burden on op- erators of American vessels. For the first time in many years Mr. Franklin pointed out, fuel oil prices quoted abroad are below those now men- tioned in New York. Since March 1, 1933, when marine fuel oil was quoted at 75 cents a barrel the price has advanced al- most 100 per cent. The current quotation including the new advance is $1.35 per barrel, or an advance of 60 cents, This increase means that the bill for fuel oil of the United States liner Washington, for a round trip, has gone up from $20,000 to $36,000. This vessel and her sistership the Manhattan each burn approximately 27,000 barrels of fuel oil on each round voyage. Mr. Franklin said, ‘I was very much disturbed when notified of the latest increase in the price of ma- rine fuel oil. This increase is only one of several that has advanced our fuel bill almost 100 per cent in the last year. Although we have been advocating buy American, ship and travel American, we may yet be forced to protect ourselves by tak- ing advantage of foreign oil prices which, for the first time in many years are below those of New York.”’ Elected Vice President Everett Chapman, who _ joined Lukenweld Inc., division of Lukens Steel Co., Coatesville, Pa., early in 1930, as director of engineering re- search, has been elected vice presi- dent. Lukenweld Inc. is engaged in the design of welded steel assem- blies for machinery and equipment. Since joining Lukenweld Inc., Mr. Chapman has been credited with re- sponsibility for that organization’s engineering achievements in the ap- plication of welded steel construction to diesel engines and other machin- ery and equipment. Safety in Stevedoring The fifth annual Greater New York safety conference was held March 6 and 7 at the Pennsylvania hotel, New York city. The stevedoring section of this conference held its meeting on March 7 under the chairmanship of L. D. Ransom, assistant manager, Southern Pacific Steamship Co., New York. Three papers were presented; the first by Capt. N. Kvande, terminal superintendent, New York & Cuban Mail Steamship Co., New York, on Stevedore Accident Control Through 46 Efficient Organization. This paper outlined a practical type of stevedore safety organization; the superintend- ent’s duty in accident control; meth- od of fixing foreman’s responsibility ; “shenango” labor hazards and their control. The second paper on Stevedoring Hazards and Their Control, was pre- sented by Capt. John McGrath, gen- eral manager, Atlantic & Gulf Steve- dores Inc., New York. Captain Mc- Grath dealt with specific hazards and their recognition by longshoremen; practical accident prevention meas- ures to eliminate specific hazards; necessity for co-operation between stevedores and ship’s officers to re- duce accident risks. The third paper, on the Financial Aspects of Stevedore Accidents was presented by Frank C. Gregory, safe- ty engineer, United States employes’ compensation committee, Washing- ton, D. C. An abstract of this paper will be found on page 50. Made Honorary Member At a meeting of the Chicago Lodge No. 3 of the International Shipmasters’ association of the Great Lakes, held March 1 at Chicago, the _ secretary, Capt. Arthur EH. Bartel, made a nomi- nation for honorary membership in the Chicago lodge in the following words: “A gentleman, who has done a great service not alone to the marine inter- ests of the Great Lakes, but also to all legitimate industries in the United States; a skillful yachtsman and gen- eral manager of the largest fleet of vessels flying the stars and stripes; His Excellency, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States of North America.” This nomination on being put to a vote carried unanimously. The secre- tary was ordered to have made a suit- able pennant to be forwarded to the President, so that he can fly it from the masthead of his yacht or ship should he honor the Great Lakes or the waterway from the lakes to the Gulf with a visit. All-Welded Diesel Towboat The Equitable Equipment Co., Inc., New Orleans, recently designed and built an all-welded steel towboat for the Stevens Brothers & Miller Hutchinson Co. The boat is for use on a lock construction project on the Tennessee river near Muscle Shoals. The vessel has an overall length of approximately 42 feet, 6 inches, and an overall beam of about 10 feet, 4 inches. It is powered with a Cum- mins six cylinder, four cycle, solid injection diesel engine, capable of developing 85 horsepower at 1200 revolutions per minute through a two to one gear reduction. General Electric are welding equipment and electrodes were used in the construction of this vessel. MARINE REvIEw—April, 1934 Improvement is Noted at Port of Baltimore The commerce of the port of Bal- timore, while far below what is still termed ‘“‘normal,’ has shown rather remarkable advances. While the foreign exchange and currency sit- uation undoubtedly has played a part in the export increase, the improve- ment in imports, in coastwise and intercoastal business, and in gen- eral maritime operations has been due largely to expanded industrial merchandising activity, to a more secure business ‘‘feeling’’ and toward more stable foundation conditions. January exports and imports pass- ing through Baltimore increased 59.4 per cent over January, 1933. Exports alone increased 90.1 per cent over last year, while imports advanced 42.2 per cent. Weekly for- eign trade valuations here generally averaged $500,000 over the corre- sponding weeks of a year ago, two recent weekly periods being more than $1,000,000 ahead of 1933. Of 46 principal export commodities using Baltimore, 30 increased in ton- nage over January, 1933, and of 42 principal import commodities, 29 were ahead of the corresponding month of last year. Increases in vessel movements were more moderate, but an advance of 12.3 per cent in number of ves- sels and 16.9 per cent in net ship tonnage was registered in January over January a year ago. Particu- larly notable was the increase in the coastwise and intercoastal trades, reflecting a better national exchange of commodities and an enlarged ef- fort to give new production a ‘‘place utility.”’ These increases should be viewed in proper perspective. The compari- son is with a period of black despair in shipping and foreign trade. With stimulation in business has come an increased competition from other ports, perhaps more intensive than ever before. Baltimore’s natural port advan- tages are under general attack, the integrity of the port differentials is threatened from several sources, and a number of rail and water rate pro- ceedings are pending which offer , possibilities of serious harm to the fundamental situation. But the port’s basic strength and _ solidity was abundantly proved during the crisis, and the rapidity with which it has risen from the low levels of a year ago is an evidence of vitality and promise for the future. Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Phila- delphia, has been awarded a contract on its bid of $8380 for construction of a steel barge 45 feet long x 22 feet beam x 6 feet deep, by the office of the quartermaster, Fort Monroe, Va. Delivery to be made within 80 days.