Elmer A. Sperry: Pioneer of Modern Naval Tech
Elmer A. Sperry casts a long shadow over the history of modern naval, nautical and aeronautical technology, one few people know much about, but should, for a man crowned both the “father of modern navigational technology” and “the father of automatic feedback and control systems,” as well as a pioneer of rocket and missile technology. “It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress,” eulogized Charles Francis Adams III, Secretary of the Navy from 1929-1933, on the death of engineering genius Elmer Ambrose Sperry, June 16, 1930, at 69.
Transas' New Shipyard Crane Simulator
Transas Marine developed a new shipyard crane simulator under a request from BALENCIAGA Shipyard (Spain). The simulator will enable safe and cost-effective training of crane operators working with berth gantry crane of 160 t. BALENCIAGA Shipyard purchased this crane in 2006 in order to build large ship construction blocks which are assembled in the workshops and then transferred outside by hydraulic buggies. The related crane operation is a complex procedure that is affected by a significant risk of damaging expensive equipment and ship construction parts.
Proposed ASTM Standard to Cover Use of Doublers in Ship Repair
Many ship owners and operators repair ship structures with temporary steel patches known as doublers. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, as well as other maritime authorities, usually allow such patches until the ship’s next inspection period, which can be as long as three to five years from the date of repair. Despite this situation, there is not currently a standard for repairing steel hull ships with doublers.Subcommittee F25.01 on Structures is now working on a proposed new standard that will cover doublers: ASTM WK30649, Guide for Steel Ship Structure Repair Doubler Plate Design. The subcommittee is part of ASTM International Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Technology.
