AND SHIP NEWS Cutting labor costs by transferring 30,000 lbs. of merchandise and New Jersey. Right on the heels of these facili.ies Among the large number of different produc's that are being handled at these plants, thousands of bales of tobacco are stored yearly, in addition to which no less than 75,000 bales of cotton were handled there in the month of October, 1924, and about 30,000 in December, 1925, emphasizing in a way the opinion mercharts have of these two modern terminals. THE PORT OF NEW YORK AND SHIP NEWS wishes all its friends a Happy New Year! Erie Canal Passes Century Mark Oct. 16, 1925, was the 100th anniversary of the formal opening of the Erie Canal, which helped make New York the American metropolis and leading seaport. The day was to have been a State holiday, but the legislature made no appropriation for the contemplated ceremonies. Commemorative exercises will probably be held next spring or summer. The Lawrence Steamship Company, operated by W. of Philadelphia, acting as booking agents, is now operA. Pendleton & Co., of this company, with Megee Bros., ating a fortnightly service between Philadelphia and Miami with three steamers, the Santurce, 2,500 tons dead weight; the Justin, 3,300 tons dead weight, and the Astoria, 4,750 tons dead weight. The vessels carry general cargo, mostly building material, on the southward run, and in the northward run take sulphur from Galveston and phosphate rock from Port Tampa. Landings are made at the Causeway Terminal in Miami and cargo is being discharged without delay. The plants now have in service 18 of these new-speedy-powerful-tractors, T One of the Port's Largest Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Plants HE Staten Island Shipbuilding Co. has left the year 1925 with a record of accomplishment that well may let it take its place among the leading shipyards of the United States. Starting originally as the old Burlee Dry Dock, established in 1895 at Port Richmond, S. I., it has steadily grown so that its present plant at Mariners Harbor is perhaps the most modern and self-contained shipyards and ship repair plant in the Port of New York. With the limitations of income due to the inactivity of shipping it has kept its place as an economical yard to do work by cutting down all needless expense and this past year has witnessed the passing of the old Port Richmond yard, its organization being merged with the Mariners Harbor yard and practically all of the activities are now taking place in that one plant. This change has been effected without in any way decreasing the service of the shipyard to its customers; in fact, the increase in efficiency has been reflected in the ability to throw the entire shipyard organization on particular jobs whenever required with most gratifying results. Typical Jobs of the Past Year The year 1925 has witnessed a great variety of ship work of all kinds and descriptions. A few noteworthy jobs that will illustrate the many and diversified activit es of the Staten Island Shipbuilding Company are here noted: 1. The construction of the new steel ferryboat Albany for the New York Central Lines-West ShoreRailroad Service. 2. The construction year 1925. However, it is necessary to record the work accomplished other than that pertaining to ships in order that a true conception may be had of the company's capabilities. Therefore we will note some of the typical industrial contracts that have been completed this past year. (a) The construction of bubble towers and stills for oil refineries; work that requires tightness at very high temperatures and under heavy pressures. (b) The construction and delivery to Japan of steel, air and medical locks, caisson shafting and equipment used in the reconstruction of bridges destroyed by the Japanese earthquake. (c) The construction of cutting edges and caisson equipment for the foundations of numerous big buildings under construction in and near New York. (d) The construction of steel riveted water pipe for the City of Bayonne and private contractors in the Port of New York. (e) With the activity of construction work in Florida, contractors have used this yard to construct, alter or make ready a great variety of equipment of all kinds to be rushed to the South. General View of Part of the Yard of the Staten Island Shipbuilding Co. of five new steel ferryboats, 151 ft. long, for the City of New York, Department of Plant and Structures. 3. The conversion of the oil tank steamer Allentown to the Diesel electric drive tanker J. W. Van Dyke. This is the largest vessel afloat to be converted to this new method of ship-propulsion and its record of service has been most extensively described in all the leading marine journals. 4. The alterations of four lake type steamers to suit a particular service on the Great Lakes for the McDougall Terminal Warehouse Co. These vessels were equipped with new decks, side ports, refrigeration space, etc., for the transportation of package freight and refrigerated cargoes. They have been continuously employed since their delivery to the Great Lakes. 5. The completion and outfitting of a houseboat built from a fish trawler for Clarence P. Sturgis. This vessel, now named the Sea Hawk, is going into service as a most comfortable and efficient house boat, self-propelled, for its new owner. The above contracts are noteworthy examples of the company's activities on hundreds of vessels during the (f) The Staten Island Shipbuilding Company's foundry has been kept busily engaged in producing iron castings of all descriptions for use in a great variety of industries. The output of this foundry ranges from the smallest of castings to pieces weighing as much as 20 tons. (g) The big boiler built during the war to turn out marine boilers in large quantities has been active in building tanks of all descriptions and sizes, constructing steel ladders and buckets for dredges, building new Scotch boilers and lobester-back boilers for the steamer Mt. Hope. The above shows that this shipyard must now be considered as a leading manufacturing plant capable of constructing a diversified line of steel products used in many different kinds of business. With the depression in shipbuilding, this company early set about equipping itself to handle this class of work as it readily understood that in no other way could it obtain the complete use of its plant or its equipment. Happily, its location is such that it has proved of inestimable value to those who have been in need of good jobs done quickly and cheaply. Contracts on Hand for 1926 The Staten Island Shipbuilding Company enters the New Year with a program of contracts ahead that is not at all discouraging even in these dull times for shipbuilders. It has now on its books the following major contracts: 1. The construction of five new wooden barges for the Erie Railroad Company. AND SHIP NEWS 2. The construction of the new ferryboat American Legion for the City of New York, Department of Plant and Structures. This vessel will be the largest harbor ferryboat in the world and will be well worthy of its owner and the men for which it has been named. 3. The construction of two Diesel-electric tugboats for the New York Central Railroad Co. 4. The conversion to Diesel-electric drive of the auxiliary bark yacht Aloha belonging to Arthur Curtiss James. This beautiful vessel, as well known in all the principal ports of the world as here in New York, will be delivered early in the year 1926, completely fitted out with this latest method of ship propulsion. Its performance will be eagerly awaited by many yacht owners who will be only too glad to follow Mr. James' example as soon as the Aloha has proved herself. sels, and ships the size of the Southern Cross of the Munson Line have been comfortably berthed at these piers. As many as 50 vessels of miscellaneous sizes have been undergoing repairs simultaneously at this plant. In addition to six travelling cranes to serve the piers there are two floating derricks of 5-ton and 25-ton capacity. The principal shops include a fabricating shed capable of producing 200 tons of fabricated steel per week, a large furnace and bending slab capable of bending shapes 60 ft. long, a boiler shop which has manu factured the largest marine boiler in the Port of New York, a completely fitted out joiner and wood-working shop with a mould. loft on the second floor, the iron foundry described elsewhere in this article, and usual pipe, blacksmith, paint machine and coppersmith shops attached to all self contained shipyards. The large machine and engine building shop still remains at Port Richmond. S. S. Dixiano, Built in 1921 at S. I. Shipbuilding Co.'s Plant It can readily be gathered from the above that this company has been most active in the installation of Diesel engines in vessels. Diesel engines have proved their efficiency to such an extent that there can be no doubt as to their extensive use in the marine field and the Staten Island Shipbuilding Company simply has followed its usual plan of always being a pioneer in the field, with the result that it has been established as one of the foremost yards in the United States in the installation of Diesel engines and repairs to Diesel-engined ships. The program for 1926 as outlined above shows that the shipyard will enter the new year with a further opportunity to keep its place among the leading shipyards of the country. These contracts are, however, only a start, and while sufficient to keep the shipways engaged for many months ahead, the remaining departments of the company, comprising its ships and ship-repair facilities are always ready to book new business and receive more ships up to the capacity of the plant. The New Mariners Harbor Yard Before we close it may be in order to give a brief description of the new Mariners Harbor yard now that it has absorbed the old Port Richmond yard. Mariners. Harbor has four shipways capable of building vessels up to 430 ft. long. There are six floating dry docks, three located on the westerly side of the side of the yard for barges, tugs and small steamers and three large ones up to 10,000ton capacity located on the easterly side for large barges, carfloats, ferryboats and large steamers up to 500 ft. long. There are four piers for berthing ves The Company maintains an automobile service that meets all trains at Arlington station of the Staten Island Rapid Transit Co. People having business at the plant find this most comfortable and with the electrification of the North Shore completed the shipyard is only 45 minutes travelling time from South Ferry. A New York office is located at No. 1 Broadway for the purpose of keeping direct contact with the needs of customers. asmuch as the Staten Island Shipbuilding Co. is the oldest steel shipyard in the Port of New York, it feels in a measure a certain sense of responsibility in that it should keep pace with the growth of the Port and its needs and to that end it is continually striving, as it has in years past, to render any service that the Port may demand of it. Atlantic Tidewater Terminal Piers In The Atlantic Tidewater Terminal Company operating the Army Base piers at the foot of 58th street, Brooklyn, is reported to be preparing contracts with two large cargo lines for use of the piers. The North German Lloyd lease on Pier 4 at the Army Base expires January 1 and the company has announced that it will not be renewed. The Shipping Board warehouse, occupying the upper tier of Pier 3, is being removed to Hoboken. There are four freight carriers using the two piers at present, the "K" Line, American Republic Line, AmericanAustralian Line and the Bowatt Paper Company, operating a private line of ships to Newfoundland. Repair Work in Shipyard of Staten Island Shipbuilding Co. AND SHIP NEWS Steamer unloading to second floor. Although vessel lost her mast, as will be noted from the photograph, the discharging is proceeding on unhindered, by means of the dock cranes. January 5th, 1926. Partial view of stringpiece showing arrangement of tracks and rapid-handling machinery. January 5th, 1926. AND SHIP NEWS Steamer loading export freight. Freight temporarily unloaded on tracks during a rush and to avoid demurrage on cargo. January 5th, 1926. The arrangements for transferring railroad freight does not expose the goods to damage and inconvenience. Very often cars are unloaded directly into vessel. January 5th, 1926. |