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Diesel-Electric Is Practical In Special Cargo Service Between St. Lawrence and Great Lakes —Maximum Maneuvering Flexibility Through Restricted Waters EPORTS of the United States Steel Products Co. on their Lake freighters show that the diesel- electric driven STEEL ELECTRICIAN in service between St. Lawrence ports and the Great Lakes has been satis- factory in all respects. Her perform- ance would indicate that similar drive will be fitted in additional vessels for this service when required. The STEEL ELECTRICIAN, although not nearly as large as the lake ore carriers, because of the dimensions of the locks of the Welland canal through which she must pass in her regular trade, is constructed along similar lines in that the propulsion machinery is all located as far aft as possible, with an after deck house for the engine room force, and with the wheel house and quarters for deck officers and deck hands forward. The vessel is designed for carrying steel plates, rails and_ structural shapes, and is, therefore, provided with two large cargo hatches, each 40 feet by 20 feet, and each opening into a cargo hold about 80 feet long. Special provision is made for handling the cargo, much of which is in very large pieces, by two 5-ton electric The author, H. C. Coleman is a member of the staff of the marine engineering department ‘of the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh. Diesel-electric cargo vessel STEEL ELECTRICIAN owned and operated by the United States Steel Products Co. between St. ce Chicago, Toledo and occasionally other ports on Lake Erie 24 BY H. C. COLEMAN revolving cranes, similar to the usual land locomotive crane, which replace the usual deck winches. The vessel is unique in this respect, along with its sister ships, the STEELVENDOR, STEELMOTOR, and STEEL CHEMIST. These vessels are all of the same size except for a few inches in the overall length, and are _ practically duplicates in all details except for machinery arrangement. Each of the first two above named ships is pro- pelled by a 750 shaft horsepower, 135 revolutions per minute, 6-cylinder, 4- cycle, air injection diesel engine, while the STEEL CHEMIST has a 950-horse- power, 165 revolutions per minute, 6- cylinder, double acting, air injection, diesel engine. The following are the chief char- acteristics of the STEEL ELECTRICIAN: Length overall ft. in. ........ 257 -11% Length between p.p. ft. in. 250 0 Beam, molded ft. in. ........ AZ -9 Depth, molded ft. in. ........ 20° °0 Load draft (Lakes) ft. in. 14 0 (POSS: TONTABE © ovicisesicscncoave ss 1694 Wet TONNA SS < ..cciscsedsscssien: ee OTe Propulsion, 3 engines, .... Se Te as sicanceg anaes aes 750 The STEEL ELECTRICIAN and _ her sister ships were designed and built by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry- dock Co., Kearny, N. J. For the STEEL ELECTRICIAN, the owners and builders chose three 300-horsepower, MARINE REVIEW—June, 1927 225 revolution per minute, 4-cyclinder, 4-cycle, airless injection main diesel engines of the new M. A. N. type as manufactured by the New London Ship & Engine Co., Groton, Conn., and complete electrical propulsion equipment and underdeck auxiliary motors and control built by the West- inghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Each main engine drives a 205-kilowatt, 230- volt, main generator and a 30-kilo- watt, 2380-volt exciter. The main generators furnish power to the 750- horsepower, 690-volt, 135 revolutions per minute, single unit propulsion motor. Each engine, generator and exciter is mounted on a cast base, and a heavy-duty pedestal bearing is fitted between the generator and exciter, with the exciter armature overhung. This arrangement makes a very com- pact unit and one which is easily handled, in installation. The three generating sets are ar- ranged abreast of each other with the center set moved forward slightly to make room for the propulsion motor. The switchboard is located on a platform directly above the motor, thus affording the switchboard attendant a complete view of all the main machinery. As will be seen from the accompanying illustrations, this gives a very spacious and clean SS emma Lawrence ports and