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seful [Jints on (argo [[andling TRINGPIECES often interfere S with cargo handling operations. If the wharf apron is narrow, slingloads have to be made up in the shed so that they are delayed in hoisting while the load is steadied by the longshoremen to keep it from hit- ting the ship’s side. If there was no stringpiece the load could be made up close to the ship and this delay could then be materially cut down. Stringpieces caused delay and ex- pense in unloading and loading light- ers, due to the effort necessary to surmount the “‘hill.’’ The best mod- ern terminals have flush stringpieces so that these difficulties can be avoided. By installing a temporary guard on the dock of the California Hawaiian Sugar Refinery at Crockett, Calif. trucks are prevented from go- ing off the wharf and at the same time keeping slingloads from hitting against the ship’s side. Small pieces of sheet steel are used at some terminals to make a good trucking surface over railroad tracks or rough spots in a dock floor. The sheets are not fastened to the floor so they may be removed when con- ditions make this necessary. The Value of New Ideas EW ideas, always the life blood N of a business concern, are more so than ever under present condi- tions where it is vital to increase revenues and to decrease costs. A systematic search for new ideas is necessary if executives are to feel that they are doing everything pos- sible to improve the situation for their companies. A company execu- tive reads this page each month with this thought in mind, knowing that we make a conscientious effort to find profitable ideas for our readers. It has been so successful that he plans to send copies to all of his ship captains for their comments. Loading refined sugar at Crockett, Calif., the rope slings are returned to the deck by means of a block and tackle rigged on a post at the hatch coaming so that the ship gear is not delayed in handling the cargo. The slings are thrown from the deck to the wharf by the hatch foreman. Motor trucks fitted with cranes are used extensively on the Los Angeles water front in various cargo So TTT TTT TT Bane page is being devoted to short items on all matters having to — do with the more efficient turn- around of ships. These items are in- tended to be of a helpful nature. We will welcome for this page brief descriptions, illustrated if possible, of any better or safer way of perform- ing any function in cargo handling. Also, any questions submitted will be answered by the editor. QUUUUNULULULANNERANENEALEUEANENENOONOOOQNONONONAUOOOUUQGOOOOQOOOQOOOOGGOOOGOOOOAdAONONNUUAdNTdd Ota Pneumatic Tires on Lumber Carrier handling operations. These cranes are used to unload cast iron pipe from trailers on which it is brought to an area outside the shed where this cargo is stored. Pipe can be handled in this manner economically and without damage. Nesting Skid Saves Space HE urgent need for a collapsible Riss a nesting type skid platform has been met by the development of the nesting skid shown below for which AUAYUULQUUGDUUUUESHUUCUUDGUODUOSEUELTEET Recently developed nesting skid. Saves space in stowage and holds stacked pile together with- out danger of top- pling when moving. TTUPUUNOHHAIITHIUUUOUAAPRUULLUUGeOOEAALL MARINE REVIEw—September, 1931 patent is pending. This permits com- pact stowage of empty skids when not in use, in much less space than is required for the present type skid. Skid platforms have been used for years to handle goods in and around industrial plants, warehouses and steamship piers. However, one objection, though slight in compari- son to the saving made, was the amount of storage space required for stowing the empty skids when not in use, stacked as they usually are back to back to any desired height, usual- ly 5 or 6, requiring 45 to 60 inches. To overcome this ojectionable fea- ture the nesting skid illustrated and described here has been developed. Its general characteristics are simi- lar to the usual type of skid plat- form, with wooden top, steel legs and steel side angles. Its specifica- tions entirely conform to those re- cently established by the skid plat- form committee of the bureau of standards. The top of the nesting skid is pro- vided with four openings directly over the tops of the legs into which the legs of a superposed skid nest, which thereby reduces the vertical space between two adjacent nested skids to about 34% to 4 inches. The guide angles on the under side of the skid serve also as spacers and pre- vent jamming of the. legs. This nesting feature also serves to hold the skids together and prevent top- pling when a stack of skids is moved from one place to another, and per- mits more empties to be moved at one time. Stowing only 31% inches apart after the first skid, about 24 can be stored in 8 feet, the height of a standard box car. They are made in all sizes and especially conform. to the standard sizes established by the bureau of simplified practice, depart- ment of commerce. 45