New-York tribune., 1922-11-27


recently special provision had to b
made for an electrical engineer. Undel
the rules Of the Steamboat Inspection
Service 1t was necessary to classify
the new employee as an oiler. Diff
Guilty was encountered in getting {
competent man, but finally one was OBJ.
| tanned at salary OF so week, scv.
eral times the amount paid to oilers
/ The incident served to emphasize the
fact that the electric era ON merchant
ships has arrived suddenly and that
| the industry has not yet adapted it
self to the new situation, Net only
have the shipping lines failed to fore.
see the need, but the rules Of the
Steamship Inspection Service also lag
| behind the times.
| The rapid development Of the motor
ship, the electric drive and the general
use Of electrical machinery on board
vessels has created demand for spe-
cially trained men in excess of the
supply.
Steps which must be taken to meet
this situation were discussed at a
meeting Friday evening OF the New
| York section Of the American Institute
OF Electrical Engineers at the Engii-
lined by George A. Pierce, chief cleo
trical engineer OF the Cramp Shipbuild-
ing Company, and was discussed by
others at the dinner, including Captain
Henry NJ. Sceley, supervising inspec-
tor Of the Steamboat Inspection serv-
ice.
1t was realized that the Importance
Of the work of the electrical engineer
deserves his recognition as an ofticer
1T was pointed out further that special
training must be provided to supply
competent men for merchant vessels.
Law Is Deficient
"The electrical engineer on ship
board, in the eyes OF the law, does not
exist to-day, although his wares are
revolutioniziug the loading, carrying
and discharging Of cargoes and the
propelling of passenger and naval YES
sels.' said Mr.. Pierce.
"rhe reason that he does not exist
is very apparent. Steam and motor
or combustion engineers are required
by years of training and examination
Steamboat Inspection Service, that
they are skilled in the art of steam
or combustion engines and re-rated
and licensed by their training and
knowledge. Practically no electrical
experience is required of the steam
or motor engineer and on the other
qnired on board ship, and the subject
so far as law is concerned has never
been recognized.
Further, the requirements for per-
iodic inspections of the electrical plant
on shipboard, by the insurance socie-
ties. do not compare with the periodic
inspections required for other forms
of power.
"This question is OF recent origin
and we hope will find the needed early
solution which appears warranted by
the rapidly increasing use of electric
ity on shipboard since the development
electric drives, and particularly so
since the combustion engine will be
the future power for propelling ves-
sells.
"Tbe present age Of electricity on
shipboard is analogous with the advent
OF steam and combustion engines for
shipboard use, as the first of these
types were operated under much the
same conditions as electrical apparatus
of to-day.
"It is only recently, 1920, that COM
bustion engines were recognized Tor
ocean use in this country and the ne
and property involved by requiring
those in charge Of the machinery to
satisfy those in authority, the Steam
boat Inspection Service, of their capa-
bility to properly maintain the ma
chinery before license will be
granted, and the requirements for an
ocean license were made different from
the requirements for g motorboat
license previously in force and before
the combustion engine was developed
in sizes for ocean use.
"a similar condition was recognized
in 1852 when it was found expedient
to replace sailing vessels with steam
vessels, and requirements we're made
for knowledge of steam engines for
marine use before license would be
granted.
Electric Power Gains
"lhe time is now here when cleo
tricity should receive the same atten-
tion on shipboard as other sources of
power rather than allow the art OF
electricity on shipboard to drift along
as at present without proper superyi-
sion for installation and maintenance
"a handicap which not only impedes
progress, depriving all Of the full ben
efits which might be derived, but also
endangering the life and property in
volved.
"The first electrical installation OF
oyldHoS ana iiSuJlnS on shlPDoaio
was in 1879 and the first power install
lation of note in 1894. Rules for in
stallation of lighting were not issued
until 1891, and for power only two
years ago. Thus you see lapse OF
twelve" years from the initial use to
the date of rules for installation for
lighting apd twenty-six years for
power.
"The work of installing the plants
the lawful authority of the bureau
TO select coast ports as home norts