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HERE is marked increase in | activity in the ship yards of the Great Lakes over that which prevailed a year ago, as noted dur- ing visits then and again early in May which the editor of MARINE REVIEW made to these yards. Toledo Shipbuilding Co. Inc. The Toledo Shipbuilding yard has not been so busy as it is now for several years. A year ago the work- ing force consisted of approximately 315 men while now over 900 men are employed. There is under con- struction, launched on March 19, the carferry WABASH, said to be the larg- est vessel of its type in the world. This vessel is 380 feet in length over- all, 57 feet 6 inches in beam and 21 feet 6 inches in depth. She is elaborately outfitted with machinery and with accommodations. She. will be propelled by two vertical triple ex- pansion steam engines with steam furnished by four’ scotch boilers. Car tracks have been laid in this ferry to accommodate thirty 42-foot railroad cars. Accommodations for crew and passengers are most com- plete and elaborate including res- taurant and ice box. A 600-foot bulk freighter for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. is also underway. This vessel is 604 feet long; 60 feet in breadth and 32 feet in depth. She will be propelled by a triple expansion steam engine with steam furnished by three boilers of scotch type. A full line of auxiliary equipment will be used including windlass, winches, steering engine, pumps, refrigerating machinery and electric generators. This vessel is expected to be launched about the middle of June. Besides the new work there has been a constant demand for repairs to Lake vessels, of all types. At the time, the steamship VENUS of the Pickands, Mather Co. was at the yard for an elaborate reconstruction to fit her for the general steel and scrap carrying trade. Her new equipment will include a powerful magnetic hoist. Great Lakes Engineering Works This yard has had a steady and fair amount of general repair work throughout the winter and_ early spring. A new 600-foot bulk freighter for 28 Lake Shipyards Busy By A. H. Jansson, Editor, Marine Review the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. and a sister vessel to the one referred to above at Toledo, was nearing comple- tion. Delivery to the owner was made on May 17. Contract for this vessel was received last fall. This new bulk freighter is mamed_ the A. F. Harvey, for the president of the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. She was launched on April 9. Both ex- peditious and excellent workmanship was demonstrated by the yard in the building of this vessel. There is also building a_ self-un- loading cement boat for the Huron Transportation Co. similar in general features to the JOHN W. BOARDMAN. This vessel is to have for power a triple expansion reciprocating engine of approximately 2000-horsepower sup- plied by steam from scotch boilers burning coal. She is 400 feet long by 60 feet wide by 29 feet deep and will have a capacity of about 6000 long tons. Her unloading machin- ery will be driven by electric motors, current for which is generated by two turbo sets. Many special and some patented features will be used in her conveying and unloading machinery Owing to the nature of her service this vessel, would have been in the opinion of many engineers particular- ly suitable for the application of turbo-electric or diesel-electric propul- sion machinery. Early in May she was nearly completely framed and largely plated and _launch- ing will probably take place early in July. A number of lake vessels of different types from old wooden ships to the latest bulk freight- er like the WILLIAM G. MATHER were in for repairs or improvements of more or less extended nature. The general feeling at the yard was one of optimism in the prevailing present conditions and for future work. Manitowoc Shipbuilding Corp. This yard was particularly active and has been so for the past two or three years. A feeling of optimism prevailed in regard to present work and future possibilities. Besides a constant and important amount of general repair work there is new con- struction under way or contracted for. A large dredge was recently launched named the NEw JERSEY for the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. This vessel though not self-propelled is an MARINE REVIEW—June, 1927 elaborate shipbuilding job of heavy structural scantlings. She is 242 feet in length and approximately 51 feet in beam. The NEW JERSEY is of the hydraulic type and the powerful 30- inch suction centrifugal pump will be electric driven. Electric current will be furnished by four 1150-horse- power 6-cylinder Busch Sulzer diesel engines of cross-head type similar in design to the 3000-horsepower ship- ping board engines but of higher speed suitable for generator drive. These four units will be each separately connected to generators to furnish power required for the operation of the dredge. It is said that this dredge will be the largest hydraulic dredge in the world exceeding in capacity the CLACKAMAS of the Port of Portland. Over 50 men will be accommodated in crew quarters on board and _ corre- spondingly elaborate accommodations are necessary, the entire upper deck being used for this purpose. It is said that the total cost of this dredge complete will be approximate- ly $1,500,000. It will probably be a matter of two months or more before she is completed. There is also under construction on the ways, two large sized der- rick barges for the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. These barges are not self-propelled but are of sub- stantial construction and involve the fitting of large capacity derricks. An order had also been received from the Pere Marquette railroad for a carferry, 400 feet in length, and 53 feet in beam. This ferry will be double ended and the machinery will be of the usual reciprocating steam engine type with scotch boilers. A vessel of this nature is also a con- siderable shipbuilding job and_ in- volves the expenditure of approximate- ly $800,000. The present and future prospects for work in this ship yard seem quite satisfactory. During 1926 the yard had under construction in some stage the following vessels: The DANIEL McCoou, a twin screw diesel engined, self-unloading cement boat; the GRAND RAPIDS and MapIson, two carferries for the Grand Trunk rail- road for use on Lake Michigan; also the carferry MANITowoc for the Wabash Railroad Co. and the powerful diesel engine tug WILLIAM A. LYDON for the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. This indicates that the Man- itowoe Shipbuilding Corp. is now, and has been for some time, particularly active in shipbuilding and _ repairs. American Shipbuilding Co. The Lorain, O., yard of the Amer-