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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 it was reported that the American South African Line Inc. had plans under way by the New York naval architects Gibbs & Cox Inc. for building a new vessel for its New York-South African service. Plans and specifications for the new vessel have progressed satisfactorily but no authoritative particulars are available concerning the characteris- tics of the new vessel nor can anything be said at this time as to the inten- tions of the owner in respect to taking bids or other matters of policy. It has been assumed that the new vessel will be somewhat similar if not a sister ship of the twin screw pas- senger and cargo motorship CiIry OF New York completed for the same owner by the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co;,. Jan: 17, 1930. [* THE March issue of MARINE Resume Work on No. 534 Work has now definitely been re- sumed on the Cunard superliner No. 534 at the shipyard of John Brown on the Clyde. It is anticipated that launching will take place in Novem- ber. It is expected that some time will elapse before a second new ship is ordered, It is obvious that in plan- ning a new ship full advantage will be taken of the progress in naval architecture and marine engineering since the design for No. 534 was de- cided upon. But that a second liner will be built as soon as conditions warrant is assured. Over 2000 men, it is expected will be employed in the building of No. 534 within a period of two months. Eventually 6000 men will find em- ployment in connection with this great project. Bids on Lighthouse Tender Bids were received on March 15 by the superintendent of lighthouses, Portland, Oreg, for the construction of a twin screw, diesel propelled, light- house tender to be known as the RHODODENDRON. This vessel is to be of all steel construction and is to be powered with two six-cylinder diesel engines each developing 120 horse- power, to give the vessel a speed of 11 knots. The overall length is to be 80 feet, 64% inches; the beam molded, will be 19 feet and the depth at side, 5 feet, 26 11 inches. The lowest bid received for building “the hull was from the Lake Washing- ton Shipyards, Houghton, Wash., in the amount of $50,750 and 180 days. The lowest bid for the diesel engines was from the Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Co., Oakland, Calif., at $13,850 for each engine. As this is written no announcement had been made of the award of contract. Steering Gears Ordered Orders have been received by the Sperry Gyroscope Co. Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., for thirteen electro-mechanical steering systems for the 165-foot patrol boats and harbor cutters now under construction for the United States coast guard in Seattle, Mani- towoc, Wis., Point Pleasant, W. Va., Charleston, S. C., navy yard and Portsmouth N. H. navy yard. Selection of this type of steering gear was based largely upon the ex- cellent performance given by this equipment in the nine 165-foot pa- trol boats of the THETIS class, which have been in service for some time. Upon completion of this new build- ing program there will be a total of 22 coast guard vessels fitted with this improved type of steering equip- ment, Contract to Westinghouse Wetinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. has been awarded a contract by the United States engineers at a sum of over $500,- 000 for electrical equipment to be in- stalled at the Fort Peck dam on the Missouri river, Montana. The award includes _ substation equipment consisting mainly of high tension switching equipment; four 16,667 k.v.a. transformers and three 1000 k.v.a. transformers, two 20,000 k.v.a. synchronous condensers; a _ 60- ton crane, and other miscellaneous equipment. When installed this equipment will be used for supplying power for build- ing the Fort Peck dam Four electric- ally operated pipe line dredges will utilize much of the power generated. Sufficient capacity, however, will be provided for all other needs. The Fort Peck dam will be the world’s largest earth filled dam. It will form a reservoir of the Missouri MARINE REVIEW—-May, 1934 river, about 16 miles wide and 180 miles long. The shore line of this reservoir, or lake, will be more than 2000 miles long. The dam will be 9000 feet long and 230 feet high, 100 feet wide at the top, where a roadway will be built, and 2658 feet thick at its base. This project which is one of the greatest developments in the United States is to serve a four-fold purpose. It will provide a 9-foot channel in the Missouri river the year around; it will aid flood control; it will provide unemployment relief; and it will pro- vide a site for power development. To Use Galvanized Sheets Something new in shipbuilding is to be tried out in the building of the seven 327-foot, 2000-ton, ocean cruising cutters for the United States coast guard. Heavy galvanized steel plates are to be used in the hull construction of these vessels with the purpose in ‘mind of reducing insipient corrosion. The galvanized plates will be used primarily for deck plating. Though light galvanized steel plates have been used for a number of years for super- structure bulkheads, partitions, etc., this is the first time galvanized steel is being used in hull construction. Of these seven vessels, contract for four has been awarded to the navy yard, Philadelphia, contract for two to the navy yard, Brooklyn, N. Y., and contract for one to the navy yard at Charleston, S. C. Plate requirements for the seven vessels are 3133 tons of galvanized plates and sheets and 1907 tons of black plates and sheets and 1075 tons of galvanized shapes and 1877 tons of black shapes. Quarantine Cutters It is reported that the Warwick Machine Co., Newport News, Va., has received a contract from the United States public health service for the construction of two steel hull diesel drive, 70-foot quarantine cut- ters. This award was made under bids received Feb. 10 at Fortress Monroe, Va., and at Pacific coast ports, for building from one to three such vessels. The Warwick Machine Co. bid for the first vessel was $56,- 533 and for the second $53,233. De- livery was promised for November, 1934 and January 1935.