IIOIISrlION

JUNE, 1969

Your cargo, whether large orsmall, is handled with money-saving efficiency at the Port ofHouston. In fact, we have elimi-nated heavy lift charges on ship-ments up to 35 tons moving directto or from rail or truck, which willsave shippers "money by theton." To lift your cargo there is achoice of four 82-ton truckcranes, two revolving gantrycranes, one Paceco containergantry crane, seven locomotivecranes, two 50-ton mobile cranesand a big variety of smaller units

as well as a huge 500-ton bargecrane. There are wharves with

spacious transit shedsfor cargoes that need protectionand there are open wharves with-out an obstruction so we canhandle your larger cargoes withease.Handling Your Cargo Is The Busi-ness We Want!

PORT OFII()IISION

Pride of the GullExecutive Office: 1519 Capitol Ave.

P.O. Box 2562 ¯ Houston, Texas 77001Serving America’s Heartland

~ ~J~[~i~j~~r~r~I~~]M~[~H~~H~i~i~HE~H~~g

Expedite Your Shipments "

Via ManchesterP_

Ample Storage SpaceLarge concrete warehouses and gentlehandling insure the best of care foryour cargo.

Ample Unloading SpaceIt s easy for ships, trucks and rail carsto load and unload cargo with no delay.

¯ I II lie ==’....i[I~IC~" ,~li~lil~l’,~m_q

Experience, modern equipment and con-crete wharves conveniently located towarehouses mean quicker service.

Manchester’s modern convenient facilities include:

¯ Concrete wharves ¯ Automatic sprinkler system¯ Two-story transit sheds ¯ Large outdoor storage area¯ High-density cotton compresses ¯ Rapid truck loading and unloading

¯ Modern handling methods and equipment

For complete cargo handling service, use Manchester Terminal.

Manchester Terminal CorporationP. O. Box 52278 General Office: CA 7-3296

Houston, Texas, 77052 Wharf Office= WA 6-9631

Shipping to South Africa?¯.Ship the preferred way, via Safmarine’s direct scheduledservice by men who know their business and the country best.Remember--on your next shipment save time and money

.̄. go direct !

~~SOUTHAFRICAN MARINE CORP. [N.Y.]17 S=ttery P’=CHZC.;;o~rck~ lS200~oo’t DIQ~y/- I,eS~.t.t

FROM: HOUSTON, GALVESTON. NEW ORLEANS, SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON.BALTIMORE. PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK. TO: CAPETOWN. PORT ELIZABETH.-’:AST LONDON. DURBAN. LOURENCO, MARQUES AND BEIRA.

GUATEMALA LINESWEEKLY SERVICE TO GUATEMALA

PUERTOSANTO TOMAS, PUERTO BARRIOS,PUERTO CORTES

Houston New OrleansVERITAS June 9 June 6MARIA A. June 13 June 11VERITAS June 23 June 25

AZTA LINECONFERENCE SERVICE TO: WEST COAST CENTRAL AMERICA,CRISTOBAL, BALBOA, PUNTARENAS. CORINTO, LA LIBERTAD,

ACAJUTLA, AMAPALAHouston New Orleans

ATLANTIC PEARL June 13 June 6JOSEPHINE ~ June 12DINA U. June 28 June 26

DAFRA LINETO SAVONA, GENOA, LEGHORN, NAPLES

Houston New Orleans MobileFRANKRIG June 23 June 18 June 26BELGIEN July 12 July 7 July 15PACIFIC KLIF July 30 July 24 Aug. 4

UITERWYK SHIPPING LTD.ALGIERS,BENGHAZI AND ALEXANDRIA

HoustonJune 17EGON WESCH

New OrleansJune 13

Jan C. UITERWYK Co., Inc.OFFICES: Tampa, New Orleans, New York, Washington, D.C.,’Galveston

HOUSTON: 711 Fannin, Suite 315, Phone 713-228-9681

MoPac knows Gulf shippin~like you know the back of

your hand0Baton R0u

We serve 12 major Gulf coast ports withcoordinated rail/truck facilities.., knowour P’s and Q’s about everything youneed to know to keep foul-ups out offoreign commerce. And our know-how isfree when you ship via MoPac. So beforeyou ship out, make the nearest MoPacTraffic Office your first port of call. Thereare 81 of them in the U.S. and Mexicothat can help solve your overseas ship-ping problems.

J. P. Donovan, Foreign Freight TrafficMgr., 1706 MoPac Bldg., St. Louis, Mo.63103/E. E. McDaniels, Ass’t. TrafficMgr., Houston, 420 Union Station Bldg.Phone: (713) CA 7-3151.

mo-pacMISSOURI PACIFIC AS& PACIFIC

4 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

"BUSY HARBORS REQUIRE EXPERIENCED TOWING"

" THIRD GENERA TION OF TOW/NG"CORPUS CHRISTI ¯ TEXAS CITY ¯ GALVESTON ¯ FREEPORT ¯ HOUSTON

What’s betterthanknow-how?It lakes know-how and imagination to masterIhc difficult, the unexpected, the challenging. AtStates Marine this combination is brought tobear ~m the many problems faced by shippers.Olwratin~ ~me of America’s largest cargofleets, ~c can tailor services to fit your needs.Our people have knowledge, experience, initiative¯ . . You can count on their expert adviceand personalized service.

STATES MARINE-ISTHMIAN AGENCY, INC.U.S. National Bank Bldg., SOuthfield 3-2441States Marine Lines Gulf-South and East Africa ServiceStates Marine Lines Red Sea/Persian Gulf ServiceStates Marine Lines Mediterranean ServiceStates Marine Lines Far East ServiceStates Marine Lines Continental ServiceStates Marine Lines World Wide Full Cargo ServiceIsthmian Lines Gulf-India/Pakistan Service

JUNE, 1969 5

Before you trade(or travel) overseas,

the following informationcan be helpful.

International Department services include bank creditreports, international transfers, foreign exchange, lettersof credit and acceptances, travelers checks, foreigncollections, letters of introduction, and experienced helpin every phase of finance necessary for foreign tradeand investment.

We invite you to call, write, cable, or visit with us soon.

HoustonNational

the businessman’sBank

Tennessee Building/Milam and LazarHouston. Texas 77001 member F D I C

6 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

PORT OFIIOUSTON

Volume 1 1

Official PublicationOf the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District

JUNE, 1969 No. 6

Directory OfPort Commissioners

And StaffFOR THE

Navigation DistricttloWARD TELLEPSEN, ChairmanR. H. PnUETT, CommissionerE. II. HENDERSON, CommissionerW. I). ItADEN, II, CommissionerFENTRESS BRACEWELL, Commissioner

J. P. "I’URNER, Executive DirectorGEoI~CE W. AL~VATZR, Deputy DirectorC. E. BULLOCK, Director o] Port OperationsJ. L. LOCKETT, JR., CounselHENRY M. RROaDN~X. General Sales ManagerS. G. FULLERTON, County AuditorVAUGHN M. B/~YAIX’r, Director o] International

RelationsLLOYD GREGORY, Director o/ ln]ormationRICHARD P. LEACII,

Director o] Engineering & PlanningJoHN ROBERT SPOLLIN, Chic] EngineerJ. R. CURTIS, Terminal ManagerK. P. RovEr%

Manager o] Grain ElevatorW. J. STACNER, Manager, Storage WarehousesRICHARD J. SHIROSKY, Superintendent,

Bulk Materials ttand/ing PlantJ. K. IIENDERSON, ControllerL. T. FRITSCH, Purchasing AgentA. B. LANDRY, Personnel Manager and

World Trade Building ManagerC. L. SHUPTRINE, Chie] Security OfficerW. E. REDMON, Maintenance SuperintendentT. E. WHATLEY, Administrative AssistantV. D. WILLIAMS, Administrative Assistant

SALES OFFICES

EDWARD P. MOORE, New York DistrictSales Manager

FRANK WARD, Assistant25 Broadway, New York, New York

HUME A. HENDERSON, Chicago DistrictSales Manager401 E. Prospect, Mount Prospect, Illinois

Joan R. WgzLra, Houston DistrictSales Manager

C. A. ROUSSER. JR.,District Sales Representative1519 Capitol Avenue, Houston, Texas

EXECUTIVE OFFICES1519 Capitol Avenue at Crawford Street

Telephone CApitol 5-0671P. O. Box 2562, Houston, Texas 77001

Contents

Shippers In Three Cities Are Entertained ............................. 9

Lykes Bros. Vice Prexy Started Young In Shipping ...................... 13

Coast Guard Is Dedicated To Marine Safety ......................... 14

The Houston Port Bureau Reports ................................ 17

Container Marshalling Yard Will Be Built ............................ 18

International Sports Meet For Seamen Held Here .................... 20

Hcu_~ton Steamship Agents .......................................... 29

Sailing Schedule of General Cargo Ships .............................. 30

Port of Houston Shipping Directory ................................. 32

THE COVER

Two of the ships operated by the Coast Guard are shown sailing across the bayin this simulated race to a practice rescue. To learn more about the excitingCoast Guard see Page 14.

The Port o] Houston Magazine

TED SUblERLIN, Editor

Published monthly by the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Naviga-tion District, the PORT or HOUSTON Magazine is distributed free to maritime,industrial and transportation interests in the United States and foreign coun-tries. This publication is not copyrighted and permission is given for the re-production or use of any original material, provided credit is given to thePort of Houston. Additional information, extra copies of the magazine oradvertising rates may be obtained by writing the PORT OF HOUSTON Magazine,1401 South Post Oak, Houston, Texas 77027.

JUNE, 1969 7

¯966 9

K ~LINEKAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, LTD.

FoJr r’qo"thly sailings

HOUSTON, GALVESTON,NEW ORLEANS, MOBILE

or rW u o,r,~e*it

PORT ARTHUR, BEAUMONT, ORANGETwo direct 1o

YOKOHAMA, NAGOYA, OSAKA KOBEa*ld two P1Ort~’ly sa hnqs to

TAIWAN, HONGKONG, BANGKOK, MANILAGulf Agents

KERR STEAMSHIP COMPANY, INC.Clegg Bu Id~ng 506 Caroline Street

Houston, Texas 77002

I Galveston Dallas New Orleans Memphis311 Cotton Exchange 411 Cotton Exchange Clegg Building 56 S. Front St,

Building 327 St. Charles St.

"K" LINE NEW YORK, INC.General A~er, ts * 29 Broadway, New York, N Y 10006

SWEDISH ATLANTIC- WILHELMSENSwedish Atlantic Line, Gothenburg, Sweden and Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Oslo, Norway L~

Regular Freight and Refrigerated ServiceFROM GULF PORTS

to

LE HAVRE - ANTWERP - GH ENT - ROTTERDAMBREMEN - HAMBURG

OSLO - GOTHENBURG - COPENHAGEN - MALMOSTOCKHOLM - HELSINKI - GDYNIA

STRACHAN SHIPPING COMPANYGENERAL AGENTS

Houston Omce1400 Cotton Exchange Bldg. CA 8-1431

Other OfflcesGalveston, Hew Orleans, Mobile, Miami, Port Everglades, Jacksonville,

Savannah, Dallas, Memphis, St. Louis,Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati

New York AgentsBarber Steamship Lines, Inc.

TheBANK LINE Ltd,.

Regular Service from

U. S. Gulf Ports to

Australiaand,

New Zealand¯ Brisbane

¯ Melbourne

¯ Auckland

¯ Lyttleton

¯ Sydney

¯ Adelaide

¯ Wellington

¯ Dunedin

¯ ¯ ¯

General Agents

BOYD, WEIR and

SEWELL, Inc.New York

¯ ¯ I

Gulf Agents

STRACHAN

SHIPPING CO.

Houston - Galveston - Mobile

Memphis-New Orleans- Dallas

Chicago - Atlanta - St. Louis

Cincinnati

8 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

TIlE Powr o1." HOUSTON entertained customers of the

Port and Iheir wives in gatherings at Kansas City, Tulsa

and Oklahoma City last month, as has been customary in

years past. Deputy Director George W. Ahvater headed the

group from Houston. assisted by Henry M. Broadnax, gen-

eral sales manager; Hume A. Hen¢/erson, Chicago district

sales manager, and C. A. t{ousser, Jr., district sales repre-sentative in Housh)n. Photos on the following pa~..,,w,~ tell the

slory, beginning with Kansas City.

Shippers In

Three Eities

Entertained

Mr. and Mrs. George W. Altvater are shown at the Kansas City receptionwith Mr. and Mrs. Ben Fray of the Columbian Steel Tank Co.

By Hnustnn

Hume A. Henderson, second from left, is shown with Miss Jenny J.Burch, Haver Lockhart Laboratories, and Mr. and Mrs. Nell Hatfield ofthe Venda Corporation.

Representing Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc., were, from left, Mr. andMrs. Joe Frank and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Keltner. Mr. Keltner is managerof lhe Lykes office in Kansas City.

Shown from left to right are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wells of the Skelly OilCo., and Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dameron of the Rudy-Patrlck Seed Divisionof W. R. Grace & Co.

H. Moreno of the Vendo Company, at left, with Miss Lida Picton, Inter-national Trade Club of Kansas City, and Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Smith ofBulk Structure International.

JUNE, 1969 9

Here, from left to right, are Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Poston of Beltraco,Inc.; Miss Lida Picton, International Club, and Mr. James E. Ghlo, WestportMetals.

The Port of Houston’s general sales manager, H. M. Broadnax, secondfrom left, is shown with, from left: Wayne Brazeal, Butler ManufacturingCo.; Mrs. Wayne Brazeal and J. M. Davis, also of Butler Manufacturing.

Familiar to many friends and customers of the Port of Houston are Mr.and Mrs. Charles Barrows, at left, shown with Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Croyleof Beltraco, Inc. Mr. Barrows for many years was Midwestern Sales Managerof the Port, based in Kansas City.

Standing by the Port of Houston banner are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Holland ofFolger’s Coffee and Mr. and Mrs. Don Bandeller, Read Steel Products.

Many Shippers Attended the Party at Oklahoma City

C. A. Rousser, Jr., right district sales representative for the Port ofHouston, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fischer and Mr. and Mrs. JosephDewey, all representing the Kerr-McGee Corporation.

Sampling the hors d’oeuvres are Mrs. Harold Hix, Mr. and Mrs. RobertHester of Big Chief Drilling Co. and Harold Hix, president of ManchesterTerminal Corp. of Houston.

Pausing for a moment are Farrell Greeson of Capitol Steel and Iron,Fred Hicks of Sequoyah Furniture Manufacturing Co. and Steve Hamner ofBlack, Sivalls & Bryson, Inc.

!iii

Visiting are Mr. and Mrs. Ewart Vaughn of Calns Coffee Company andMr. and Mrs. W. H. Craven of Construction Machinery, Inc.

10 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

Watching a Port slide presentation are Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett of theOklahoma Industrial Development Commission and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kennedyof Arrow Bag Company.

ii~i~I iiShown from the left are Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hamner of Black, Sivalls &

Bryson, Inc., Miss Betty Dale and Victor Kramer, also of Black, Sivalls &Bryson, Inc.

Welcoming guests are the Port of Houston’s Deputy Director and Mrs.George AItvater; right, with Mr. and Mrs. Don Edelson of Summit MachineTool Manufacturing Co.

Mrs. Farrell Greeson, whose husband is with Capitol Steel & Iron Co.,visits with Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rada of Kerr-McGee Corporation.

Tulsa Businessmen and Their Wives Attended Reception

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Duensing of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce visitwith Mr. and Mrs. John Smith of the Oklahoma Tire & Supply Co.

David Cox of Williams Bros. Co. visits with Mr. and Mrs. Gene West ofBareco Wax Company.

i

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith of Kerr Glass Manufacturing Co. arrived withMr. and Mrs. Kenneth Flett of Fred E. Cooper, Inc.

Smiling for the photographer are L. W. Burrus of National Tank Co.,Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Pickett of Reda Pump Company, Bartlesville, and C. A.Rousser, Jr., district sales representative.

JUNE, 1969 11

Admiring the decor are John Manley of Copes, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. GaryMurray of Copes, Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fiveash, Jones & LaughlinSupply Division.

Shown here are Mr. and Mrs. Waymon Roy of Sun O~1 Co. and Dr.and Mrs. Sidney Born of Born Engineering Co.

Mr. and Mrs. George Altvater, right, are welcoming Mr. and Mrs. JackKnox of the Dowell Division of Dow Chemical Co.

J. P. Harle of the J. P. Harle Forwarding Co., Houston, is with Bob Copeof Petroleum Trading & Transport Co. and Mr. and Mrs Ky Kelley of UnitRig & Equipment Co.

Arm in arm are Mr. and Mrs. Jack Duval of Norris-O’Bannon, a divisionof Dover Corp. and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Sprecker of Seismograph ServiceCorp.

Representing PhilHps Petroleum Company are Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Christieand Mr. and Mrs. George Stables.

Ab Armstrong of Houston’s International Export Packers visits with BobFenimore of Warren Petroleum Corp., Miss Faith Bradshaw, Don Tidmoreof the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and Miss Kathy Kenney.

Talking here are Mr. and Mrs. Hicks Clark of Sun Oil Co., DX Division,and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wilson of National Tank Company.

12 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

Another In A Series

Meet ~cha,4 E. Bv,.L[e[d

Lyli=es Br, us. Vit:e PrexySlarled Yuunq in Rhipltinq

Men Who Make The Port of Houston Hum

By Lloyd GregoryInformation Director

RICHARD E. [~ERKEFELD, 57, has had 38 years experience

in ocean-going shippino.Mr. Berkefeld, assistant vice president, West Gulf division,

Lykes Bros. Steamship Co.. Inc., at 19 started as a traineefor Hamburg American 15ne ill Hamburg, Germany, hisbirth place.

The young fellow worked briefly as a longshoreman, tallyclerk, and as a runner for an English freight forwardingcompany. "The pay was 10 marks a month (four dollars inAmerican money), but we trainees did get a FHEE hmeh,"Mr. Berkefeld recalled.

Lykes Bros. boasts the largest privately-owned tleet in theUnited Slates, and is recognized one of the world’s greatsteamship lines. It is a subsidiary of Lykes Corporation,which is to be changed to Lykes-Youngstown Corp., repre-senting a merger with Youngstown Steel.

Solon B. Turman is chief of the executive committee; J. T.Lykes, Jr., chairman of the hoard; F. A. Nemee, president;J. M. (Buddy) Lykes, Jr. executive vlee president.

Within the last 10 years, Lykes has added 21 Gulf Pridefreighters, with a speed of 19 knots, and 12 Lykes Clippers,with a speed of 20 knots.

General 1)ynamies shipyard at Quincy, Mass., has startedwork on three Seabee class freighters for Lykes. Slated forcompletion in 1971, each ship will haw" room for 36 fully-loaded barges, which can be rolled on and rolled off.

"These ships will represent a revolutionary concept inmarine shipping," Mr. Berkefeld observed.

Following his apprenticeship, Mr. Berkefeld worked severalyears for Hamburg American, and then moved to the WestCoast of the l:nited States ~.here he worked in Portlandand Seattle as foreign agent for Sudden and Christenson,owners of Arrow lntercoastal Steamship line.

After three years as an officer in the Army TransportationCorps, Mr. Berkefeld, a naturalized American, went to workfor I~ykes in the traffic" department at New Orleans. Shortlythereafter, he was transferred to Antwerp, where in 1950 hewas named continental traffic manager. He served in Galves-ton. New Orleans and in New York. where he was assistantvice president of the Eastern I)ivision before being transferredto Houston Sept. 1. 1966 as assistant vice president, WestGulf Division.

Mr. l~erkefehl is president of the prestigious Nationall)efense Transportation association; chairman of the Portof Houston Containerization committee; member of HoustonDowntown Rotary Club and of Southern Yacht Club of NewOrleans.

Mr. and Mrs. Berkefeld li~e in League City. They haveone daughter, Mrs. Susie Selman, who teaches in the Texas ...........City high school; and two grand-children.

The Berkefelds are members of the Lutheran church. RICHARD E. BERKEFELD

JUNE, 1969 13

Always Standln9 Alert...

COAST GUARDIs Dedicated To Marine Safety

By H. S. BONNEY

International Relations Representative

Seldom have so many owed so muchto so few.

It was Winston Churchill’s menmraldesalute to Great Britain’s courageous air-men during Worht War II that can bcapplied with equal validity today toanother valiant group--the [~.S. (~oastGuard.

Through the years Coast Guard men]-hers few in numher and most oftenre]sung and taken for granted haveperformed innumerable and formidabh,tasks almost as a matter of routine,policing the nation’s harbors and coast-lines, aiding vessels in distress at sea.constantly maintaining the indispensalde

navigation aids, and taking up the gunwhen its counlry has been imperiled.

Smaller by far than any other branchof America’s military scrxiees, the [-. S.Coast Guard, since its founding in 1790by Alexander Hamihon, the first Secre-tary of the Treasury, as the "ihwenueMarine," has been dedicated to marinesafety and upholding the laws.

Nowhere is this more ol>vious thanat tile Port of Houston where some 65officers and enlisted persomn,1 man theHouston Coast Guartt Station on theHouston Ship Channel.

In mid-May this small band of menin white and khaki stoud at attention

! . ......................l!

14

Harbor patrol boats get constant care and attention from crewmen.

on their parade field while CommanderA. G. "Spike" Taylor, retired now butcommander of the unit lhruugh 1968,presented Ihem with the Coast Guardt/nit Comnwndation for "Exceptiunally_\leritorious Service." This was for theirwork in comlmting fires, nnder "highlyhazardous" conditions, on the Liberianfreighter M/V CHRISTIANE, after itcollided with three gasoline-loadedbarges in early 1968. The CHRIST-lANE, itself carried barrels of highlyttamntable naptha. Commander Taylor,himself, shared the citation.

Daring Rescue

The rare (;old Lifesaving Medal wasalso awarded at the same fornmtion toSeaman John R. McGowan for "Extremeand heroic daring" in the 1968 rescueof a disabled surfer in turbulent surf andstrong undertow in the Gulf of Mexiconear Port Isabel, Texas. After rescuingthe stricken surfer, some 200 yards fromshore. McGowan had to return to thewaler to assist another would-he rcs-<’urer, cxhauste<t froI]l tile strong sea. tosafety,.

The commanding officer of the Hous-ton Statilm now is Commander A. B.Rose. He is also Captain of the Port . . .an awesome title that carries even nn)Feawesome responsl bilities.

Commander Rose’s area of responsi-Idlity cruets the Houston Ship Channeland its tributaries froln the Port ofHouston Turning Basin to Morgan’spoint where the Channel empties intoGaheston Bay. This Command area issoon 1o he expanded hut even as it ex-ists now this encompasses Houston’s -and Texas" largest single industrialeomph:’x, it is a $3 billion induslrial areaattd the focal point for an ever increas-ing array and amount of chemicalswhich, as Commander Hose puts it, "isthe port’s biggest problem today."

"It used to be," l{ose says, "thatdangerous chemicals were respectfullyand gingerly handled in bottles; now we

PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

have whole vessels full of the stuff."He says he feels that familiarity withhandling these chemicals all the timebreeds a certain contempt and this con-tempt cau lead to unsafe handling prac-tices.

"What we’re really pushing for rightnow is bridge-to-bridge communicationson all vessels." This, he says, is vital toall moving vessels--and especially to theones that are carrying volatile and/ordangerous cargo.

Tile Port Captain is backed up in thisurgent project of establishing radio com-munications between vessels using theHouston Ship Channel by the Port ofHouston Safety and Advisory Council.Among other maritime members of thisgroup are tile Houston Ship Pilots andthe Port’s tugboat operators, all of whomdaily see the possible perils to the greatocean-going liners making the 50-miletrip from tile open Gulf to the port.

Communications Gap

Coinmander Rose contends that the re-cent fiery sinking of the UNION FAITHin the Mississippi Riw’x almost directlyunder one of New Orleans’ big bridges,after it collided with a barge tow, couldhave been avoided had bridge-to-bridgecommnnications existed at the time. Notalone in this matter-of-fact judgement,he has since been joined by other CoastGuardsmen and navigation experts whoindependently reached the same conclu-sion.

The Houston Coast Guard has beeninstrumental so far this year in acquir-ing special permission from the FederalCommunications Commission to operateand monitor local Channel 13 for send-ing special emergency or danger mes-sages to the big ships and to alert vesselsto special Channel conditions, such asfog.

Commander Rose is highly laudatoryof Houston industry. He maintains that"cooperation of industry with the CoastGuard in this area is far, far abow~ theaw~,rage. ’’ A veteran Coast Guardsmanof some 15 years, he says he has seenmany port areas and that Houston’sranks mnong the finest in this field.

The headquarters for the HonstonCoast Guard is located at the DickinsonIndustrial District (Oht Dickinson GunPlant). just downstream from the Navi-gation 1)istriet’s main complex ofwharves and facilities.

Plans are underway to huild a $2.4million permanent station to replace theframe buildings presently occupied bylhc Houston Coast Guard. contingentupon Congress’ approval of some $142million in overall U.S. Coast Guardt’nnds for such improvements.

Bodl officers and enlisted men atHouston receiw, a subsistance and quar-ters allowance since there are no facili-ties for housing and feeding them on

The famed square rigged training ship, EAGLE, is under full sail in the Atlantic.

base. A new permanent station wouldprovide both.

In addition to patrolling the Port andthe Houston Ship Channel with its threeutility boats, the Houston Coast Guardalso inspects each ship in the Port jointlywith the officer in charge of marine in-spection.

This is a standard Coast Guard pro-cedure to insure that all the sea-goingvessels are truly seaworthy and imposeno threat to the port at which they arecalling.

Ship Surveillance

Unpublicized and somewhat hush-hush, hut obvious to all familiar withU.S. ports, is another job performed bythe white-or-denim-clad personnel of theCoast Guard. Aboard cutters or utilityboats, they are always standing nearbywhenever om~ of the Iron-Curtain coun-tries’ vessels is loading or unloading atthe Port. This surveillance is undoubt-edly deadly boring in most instances butit is just one of many chores the CoastGuard seems to take in stride.

Because of its small numbers and com-plex duties to far-flung parts of theglobe, the U.S. Coast Guard has of neces-sity developed a close, tightly knit or-ganization where ew,ry man is not onlya specialist in one job but often in many.

This efficiency of organization andoperation was achieved many years ago,since, it appeared, each year seemed toadd more duties to the long roster ofCoast Guard responsibililies.

To cope with its need for highlytrained officers, the Coast Guard eventu-

ally established the well-equipped andfamous U.S. Coast Guard Academy onthe Thames River in Connecticut wherea newly-made ensign receives a Bachelorof Science degree when he finishes thefour-year course of engineering and mili-tary classes. Enlisted men are sent to"boot camps" where they, too, are highlytrained. Following this primary training,an enlisted man may attend one of manyCoast Guard-maintained petty officerschools or go up the ladder via numerouscorrespondence courses offered throughthe Coast Guard Institute in Groton.Connecticut.

Tonrs of duty for the Guardsmen varyfrom assignment to assignment. At thePort of Houston, a post listed as veryhigh on the "desirable" list, enlisted menCan expect at least a year’s tour andofficers can expect about three years’stay.

The history of the U.S. Coast Guardis fascinating--for durability, for versa-tility and for the service’s w~ry abilitynot only to survive hut to survive whilemaintaining a constantly high degree ofefficiency.

Its first ten cutters (sailing vesselsbuilt in the late eighteenth century at acost of $1,000 each) were used to bringa halt to smuggling in this country. Sincethat time its role has been conslantlvexpanded.

In 1799 the French waged a "cohtwar" aginst the U.S. and French priva-teers preyed on, and seized, some 350 ofour merchant ships. Four fleets of 20ships each were ordered to sea to haltthe French raiders. The eight Coast

JUNE, 1969 15

Guard cutters in this operation managedto capture 18 of the 20 French shipssubsequently taken. Something of a rec-ord was established by the CutterEAGLE when the 187-ton vessel tookfive French ships, recaptured sevenAmerican ships and assisted in the cap-ture of 10 others. The square-riggedtraining ship used today by Coast GuardCadets bears that ship’s famous name.

In the War of 1812 against GreatBritain, cutters took 14 enemy ships.Often heavily outgunued and out-manned, these forerunners to today’sCoast Guard gave such a good accountof themselves that Britain’s great sea.power was brought to a virtual stand-still.

Fought In The War

From 1815 up through the Civil Warthe Revenue Marine went to sea againstslavery and pirate ships. In 1843 theRevenue Marine was reorganized into asystem similar to the one in use todayby the Coast Guard, and it began tobuild its cutters with iron hulls andauxiliary steam power. Cutters took partin the Mexican War in 1846, and, ofcourse, in the War Between the States,fought on both sides.

Revenue Marine cutters were in theSpanish-American War, helping block-ade Havana and taking part in the Bat-tle of Manila Bay in 1898.

Somewhere in this time period theRevenue Marine became the "RevenueCutter Service" and then, finally, in1915 merged with the Lifesaving Serviceto become the Coast Guard, the name ithas borne ever since.

In World War I, the Coast Guardjoined the U.S. Navy to convoy ships,screen transports and fight with theGerman undersea boats whenever theycould. During this time the Coast Guardsustained far greater losses proportion-ately than any other branch of the U.S.Armed Forces.

Between World War I and World WarII, the Coast Guard grew, mainly be-cause of anti-smuggling activities re-

Com,mander A. B. Rose awards Lifesaving Medal to Seaman John R. McGowan.

quired during Prohibition days. DuringWorld War II the service hit its peakwith more than 170,000 personnel underarms at the end of the conflict. Of thisnumber 572 were killed in action.

Now under the U.S. Department ofTransportation, rather than the Treas-ury, the Coast Guard today has under itscommand more than 60 distinct classesof ships and more than 20 different typesof aircraft. The larger cutters are in the300-foot-plus class and other vesselsrange downward to harbor tug size.

Many Types of VesselsThe great variety of Coast Guard

duties dictates the many different kindsof ships. Some serve as ocean stationvessels, keeping out a weather eye andrelaying information back to U.S. mete-orologists. Others, along with aircraft,chart and keep tabs on icebergs, one ofthe greatest hazards for ships using thenorthern shipping lanes.

Another job is to aid persons andships in distress at sea. Another is toman lifeboat stations. Another is to aidin shipwrecks. The Coast Guard alsomaintains lighthouses and other naviga-tion aids such as buoys.

It also keeps track of all ships at seathrough a service called the AMVER(Automated Merchant Vessel Report)System. This is a mutual assistance pro-gram operated by tile Coast Guardwherein all vessels, regardless of na-tionality, are urged to participate insearch and rescue efforts whenever an-other vessel reports in distress. Each ves-sel is asked to give voluntary sailingmovements by radio at fixed iniervals sothat the Coast Guard, through electronicand other computerized methods, canpinpoint any one ship within a w~rysmall radius.

Thus, whenever a ship signals a "May-day" distress call, all ships nearby canassist in rescue operations if the CoastGuard notifies them they are withinhelping distance of the disabled vessel.Those too far away to help are alsonotified so that their sailing schedulesare not disrupted.

With their many duties, their historyof aid to their country and the maritimeworld, their devoted service in upholdingthe law--with all this and more. surelyChurchill’s greatest accolade applies tothe country’s finest . . . the U.S. CoastGuard.

A helicopter makes a "routine" rescue at sea.

16 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE.

THE NATION’S RAILROAD ASSOCIATIONS latestincrease proposal has been made publicand includes 21 rate and rule changesdesigned to increase the revenue-producingpotential of a few commodity ratestructures and numerous services some$60 million per year. Commodity rate,minimum weight applications or restrictivedescription changes amounting to increasesare aimed at iron ore and pellets, lime,automobile parts, brick, building boardand bagasse. Increase (or restrictiveprovisions amounting to increases) incharges for services or privileges include:stopping-in-transit for partial loadingor unloading; cars on hold track awaitingbilling; transit rule restrictions andcharges including greatly increasedminimum transit charge; maximum mileageallowance on tank cars; restriction of twocars for one in U.F.C. Rule 24, storage;diversion or reconsignment; transloadingconsolidating in transit and TOFC chargesfor split pick-up and delivery anddetention. The proposal also containsclarifying provisions restricting the useof lower domestic rates when specificimport-export rates are intended to applyand increases in port charges on water-borne traffic at U.S. North Atlantic andPacific Ports. At first glance some ofthe proposed changes, particularly ontransit, seem to be excessive and self-defeating in that they would increaserevenue on such services performed,however, they would render the transitprivilege unattractive to the shipper withthe net result of less use of transit andloss of much traffic normally captiveto the rail lines.

THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION isbeing urged by the Senate CommerceCommittee to take some action toward asolution to the nation’s chronic freightcar shortage problem. Members of theCommission, led by its chairman, Mrs.Virginia Mac Brown, were summoned beforethe surface transportation sub-committee toreport on progress by the Commission toimplement provisions of Public Law89-430 which amended Section l(14)a of theInterstate Commerce Act and authorized

the Commission to impose so-called"incentive per diem" rates for the use ofone rail carrier’s freight cars byanother railroad. It is felt that thepresent per diem charge of $2 and $3 doesnot offer sufficient incentive to forcethe offending lines to return foreignline cars since the present cost ischeaper than the cost of building newfreight cars. This has resulted in a largenumber of cars owned by the Western raillines being held by the Eastern andSouthern lines and causing a terrificshortage of boxcar equipment throughout thegrain producing Midwest as well as othergeneral purpose cars throughout theWest. The Commission, under Ex Parte 252,has conducted two studies in the matterand does not yet feel that it hassufficiently refined data to impose anyincentive per diem basis. General counselfor the Commission also feels thatprovisions of the Interstate Commerce Actrequires hearings prior to the fixingof such charges whenever the carriers donot agree on what such charges shouldbe, and such litigation could delay thematter into next year. The Committee doesnot share his views, however they offeredto change the law to remove any obstaclesbarring the I.C.C. from having authority todeal with the problem and urged promptaction in the matter.

. . ,

THE HONORABLE VIRGINIA MAE BROWN~chairman, the Interstate CommerceCommission and Honorable J. W. Pickers~il!~president t Canadian Transport Commissionwill address the fortieth annual meeting,Association of Interstate CommerceCommission Practitioners~ Warwick Hotel,Houston, June 25 through 27, 1969. Reser-vations include a large attendance bymany leaders in the transportation field.It is particularly significant that oneof Houston’s own, Phil H. Boudreauxof the Southern Pacific Company, hasbeen named president-elect of the nationalorganization for the year 1968-1969.Congratulations Phil. Houston looksforward toward extending its hand ofhospitality to such an imposing group ofdelegates and guests.

JUNE, 1969 17

Container Marshalling Yard Will Be Built

18 PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE

Continue Houston’s Leadership For Future

Phase I of a multi-million dollarexpansion and improvement pro-gram for handling containers willget started at the Port of Houstonwithin the next 30 days, J. P.Turner, executive director, said.

Houston was the pioneer con-tainer port in the United States,having received its first shipload ofcontainers in May, ]956.

Coastwise trade was the first totake advantage of truck-size con-tainers loaded on board ship foreconomy of movement between theEast Coast and the Gulf Coast. Thishas been so successful much for-eign commerce is now going in con-tainers and the demand for con-tainers is growing every week, saidTurner.

The first phase of the expansionprogram will be to provide a ]6acre container marshalling yard im-

JUNE, 1969

mediately to the rear of Wharves26 and 29, two of the six modernopen-type wharves designed to han-dle containers at the Port of Hous-ton.

Bids will be opened on June 16for the paving, fencing and light-ing of the marshalling yard. Thiswill be followed by the installationof a bridge crane to shift containersin the yard.

number of container cranesare already in operation, howeverplans are being studied for the in-stallation of two giant gantry con-tainer cranes on wharves 26 and 29to speed up loading and unloadingof container ships. These wharveseach offer an unobstructed expanse600 feet long and 200 feet wide.

Turner said that Phase I wouldcarry a price tag of $750,000. Thiswill be the first of several marshal-ling yards and other associated fa-cilities for the efficient handling ofcontainers.

The Port of Houston is one of

the major container ports in theUnited States, handling approxi-mately 15,000 containers per year.

Most of the containers are hauledto and from the port on trucks andthe new container yard will be inthe shadow of a gigantic high-levelbridge that will span the Ship Chan-nel to become part of InterstateHighway 610. Foundation and ap-proach work has been started forthe bridge, which is expected to becompleted in 1971.

Sea-Land Service, the pioneercontainer ship operator, uses a huge27-ton Paceco container crane t’orits coastwise and Puerto Rico con-tainer service. In addition, the porthas a 50-ton electric gantry and ao;-ton electric gantry as well asfour 82 ton mobile cranes, all usedfor handling containers.

In addition to the first marshall-ing yard, the Port has approxi-mately ]50 acres of land in backof the wharves which may be usedfor container storage and servicing.

19

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International Sports Meet For Seamen Held Here

Soccer was one of the most competitive of the track and field games heldon an eight-acre site, valued at $250,000, which was the Port of Houston’scontribution to the brand new International Seamen’s Center, scheduled tobe built later this year with donations from citizens and firms of the Hous-ton metropolitan area. Opposing teams here are composed of French, Swissand Greek seamen.

Here, a team from the Swiss vessel, M/V ST. CERGUI:, strives for a winin the 400 meter relay races in the Norwegian-sponsored InternationalTrack & Field Meet which was open to seamen of all nationalities for thefirst time. Up until 1969, a similar annual event was held at the Port ofHouston for sailors of Scandinavian countries.

What some seamen lacked in grace and form in the May InternationalTrack and Field Meet at the Port of Houston, they made up for in sheereffort and willpower. Although this West German seaman from the M/VKARINA has just knocked over the high jump bar, he went on to a moresuccessful try later with a modified jumping technique.

2O

This young deckhand from the French vessel, M/V VULCAIN, is clockedin as the winner of the 100 meter dash by one of the eight Norwegiancoaches sent to supervise the Port of Houston’s first International Track &Field Meet, under the sponsorship of the Norwegian Government Seamen’sService.

PORT OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE