Marine Log - November 2008 - (Page 26)

130th ANNIVERSARY ShipBuilding ICE ISSUE CLASS TANKERS 1955 Offshore drilling booms According to our May 1955 issue of MARINE ENGINEERING, “drilling in the gulf dates back to 1938.” In the article, Off-Shore oil Boom Growing, Boosts Marine Market, the author states that the “submergered oilfields extend along the 8,000 miles of coast line from Brownsville, Tex., to the eastern side of Louisiana,” with a potential for success, “not only for the oil companies but also for the shipyards.” However this industry—a baby at the time—was proving to be expensive and at times problematic. “Legal entanglements over ownership and a war prevented this business from progressing rapidly. However, it is a very expensive ‘baby,’ having cost more than $300,000,000 through 1953.” MARINE ENGINEERING perceived offshore drilling in the Gulf as a business for larger firms with financial backing. At the time, the cost of drilling varied from $750,000 to $1,250,000. “The first offshore drilling platforms to produce were brought in by the Humble Oil Company of Grand Isle, La.” METHODS OF OPERATION MARINE ENGINEERING delved into the different methods of operation for oil exploration—such as drilling platfroms which the article called “the most interesting type of vessel used.” The article also discussed the types of vessels used to transfer oil and crew members to and from the platforms. At the time, this new industry’s potential for success was still in question, but MARINE ENGINEERING took a positive outlook on the matter stating that as long as the wells in the gulf produce, “the need for boats and floating vessels will continue,” keeping the shipyards in business. And adding: “It is very possible that ideas developed on the Gulf will be used worldwide in future off-shore drilliing operations. The marine industry can be justly proud of the part they are playing in this new industry.” 1956 Andrea Doria disaster On July 25, 1956, Swedish American Line’s 12,644-ton, Stockholm and the Italian Line’s $30 million, 29,083-ton Andrea Doria collided 45 miles off the coast of Nantucket. Considering the extent of damage on the 525 ft Stockholm and the sinking of the 697 ft Andrea Doria the amount of deaths was incredibly low, with Stockholm losing five crew members and Andrea Doria losing 45 passesngers out of the 1,134 that were on board. In our September 1956 issue of MARINE ENGINEERING/LOG, in Death of a Superliner: The Andrea Doria-Stockholm Disaster, the author writes “The Andrea Doria developed an immediate list of 20 to 25 deg which subsequently worsened. Ten hours and 47 min later the pride of Italy’s merchant marine sank.” At the time, mystery and confusion surrounded the events of that night—with both lines blaming the other for the collision. MARINE ENGINEERING/LOG featured both versions of the story: the Swedish American Lines version that was filed in Federal Court August 7, 1956 and the Italian Line’s rebuttal released to the press the day after. The Swedish Line claimed the Italian ocean liner failed to sound a signal, was travelling at an excessive rate of speed under foggy conditions, and the crew on board the Doria failed to use the radar equipment correctly. The Italian Line countered with “the fault of the Stockholm was flagrant as to her high speed, her failure to sound fog signals and her admitted change of course directly into collision.” The lines eventually settled out of court. No definitive blame for the accident has ever been assigned to any of the parties involved, except it was determined that the accident was caused by human error. An “artist conception of the Offshore Company’s latest deep-water drilling platfrom for work in water 100 ft deep” —May 1955, MARINE ENGINEERING 26 MARINE LOG nOVEMBER 2008 www.marinelog.com http://www.fleetech.com http://www.fleetech.com http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - November 2008

Marine Log - November 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Looking Back at 130 Years Generation NeXt What's Ahead? Media Kit 2009 Defying the Naysayers Rampant Piracy Takes Shipping Hostage The Last Chapter of the New Carissa International Workboat Show Preview Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events Website Directory ML Buyer's Guide ML Marketplace Marine Salvage

Marine Log - November 2008

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