People & Company News

Maritime Surveys Ltd., Shoreham, Sussex, U.K., recently took delivery of the first SeaBat 8160 multibeam echosounder system from RESON A/S. The SeaBat 8160 was installed on one of Maritime's survey vessels, the Scotian Shore. Alastair MacDonald, managing director of Maritime Surveys, commented on the success of the sea trials: "The SeaBat 8160 delivered the highest quality multibeam survey data in a swath width of 1,300 meters at 3,000 meters water depth, even when experiencing a near 20 degree roll and 12 degree pitch. The excellent data quality combined with the system's portability makes the 8160 extremely valuable for our operations." During these trials the system was supported by GSE Rentals of Aberdeen who supplied a TSS POS M/V 320 system. The SeaBat 8160 is the newest addition to RESON's 8100 series of multibeam echosounders. The system features a pitch-stabilized transmitter and, with the optional 6042 controller, a roll-compensated receiver.

The SeaBat 8160 processor is compatible with other SeaBat sonar heads, and can be updated in minutes to accommodate future requirements.

World Renowned Propeller Expert To Retire

After a career leading the modernization of U.S. ship and submarine technology, Dr. William B. Morgan, Head of the Carderock Division's Hydromechanics Directorate, retired December 30, 2000, with almost 50 years of service. During his career, the Iowa native brought computers into naval engineering, revolutionizing propeller design by shifting from empirical to theoretical, becoming the first in the world to put the theoretical propeller data into a computer. This dramatically reduced propeller noise, enhancing submarine and ship acoustic characteristics. For example, he and his associates developed the highly skewed propeller with its superior vibration and acoustic properties. His largely unheralded work helped the United States win the Cold War.

Dr. Morgan started working with the UNIVAC I and UNIVAC II computers as early as 1954 when programmers punched in data using binary systems. "It used to take me six weeks to perform some theoretical calculations by hand on paper. UNIVAC I cut the time to 25 minutes. Now, those same calculations are made by computers in microseconds. Faster calculations accelerated the use of theory by increasing data that could be included."

He directed the acquisition of world-class facilities such as the Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin, Rotating Arm, 36-in. Variable Pressure Water Tunnel and the Large Cavitation Channel (LCC). Today, his staff leads the world advancing the state-of-the-art in laser imaging velocimetry, a non-intrusive measurement capability. Dr. Morgan has published many significant reports describing his accomplishments with sub-cavitating, super-cavitating, contra-rotating propellers and highly skewed propellers; annular airfoil and ducted propeller theory; propeller blade strength; hydrodynamic properties of blade sections; and propeller cavitation, ventilation and noise. He is the only U.S. citizen to receive the William Froude Medal from the U.K.'s Royal Institute of Naval Architects.

On December 8th, Dr. Morgan was presented with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award in a ceremony at the Carderock Headquarters in Bethesda. This singular recognition constitutes the highest honorary award the Secretary of the Navy bestows. Complementing this Navy decoration, the Navy has authorized naming the LCC in Memphis and a road at Carderock after Dr. Morgan.

NOL To Buy GATX Logistics For $210M

Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) announced a deal to buy U.S.-based GATX Logistics for $210.5 million in cash. NOL said the acquisition would boost revenues for the group's unit APL Logistics - the vehicle used to buy GATX - by 70 percent or more than $300 million. GATX, owned by GATX Corp. until last June, is the second largest warehouse-based contract logistic company in the United States with about 21 million sq ft of warehousing space. NOL said the completion of the deal was expected to take place during the first quarter of this year.

Longwood Appoints Walljasper

Longwood Elastomores, Inc. has announced the appointment of David Walljasper to its Marine Fender Systems Group as a Technical Sales Engineer. Walljasper is a 1988 graduate of Iowa State University.

Port of Tacoma Elects New Officers

Connie Bacon was named President of the Port of Tacoma Commission for 2001. She replaces outgoing Commission President Ted Bottiger. "I look forward to building on the success the Port experienced in 2000 and setting the stage for more growth in the coming years," Bacon said. "This is a dynamic time for the Port and for the community it serves. The changes that are underway are helping to strengthen and diversify the local economy." She also thanked Bottiger for the leadership he provided during the past year. "Ted's experience as a former state representative and state senator allowed him to provide a high level of leadership on a variety of complex issues, and we are grateful for that."

Coast Guard Veteran Joins Zodiac

Scott Clendenin, recently retired from a 24-year career in the U.S. Cost Guard and has joined the Zodiac of North America (ZNA) Professional Products Division as U.S. Coast Guard Support Manager.

By the time he retired from the Coast Guard as a CWO2, Clendenin logged long hours operating in extreme weather and surf conditions. He served as the commanding officer of Motor Lifeboat Station Yaquina Bay (large) and Station Depoe Bay (small), located in Newport, Ore. Before that, he was officer in charge, Coast Guard Cutter Point Winslow, located in Morgan City, La., and operating in the region between the Mexico border and Miami, Fla.

Ultra Dynamics Appoints Agent

Ultra Dynamics, an international company located in Columbus, Ohio and Cheltenham, England, have appointed R.B. Grove, Inc. of Miami as their UltraJet agent in Florida. UltraJet marine jet drives are suitable for input powers in the range 100 to 1200 BHP (900 kW) per jet in commercial, work boat and pleasure craft. As a former Hamilton jet distributor in Florida, Grove brings knowledge and experience with jet propulsion to the new relationship with UltraJet. Grove's president, Tom Piper, stated, "The UltraJet range provides our customers with more options for jet propulsion, including a wide range of controls and ancillary components."