New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
Ship Lines Told
lheyCanObtainl
Greater Savings
Operating Efficiency Within
Reach. Says Capt. Sulli-
van; Subsidies Needed to
Offset Capital Handicaps
Diesel Engine Is Praised
Aekerson Outlines Best Use
of New Type Motors; Adj
vocates Standardization

vim thei. power 20 eeualize their op-
assxsng costs with their foreign rivals.
bps there is need for government aid
To Offset higher capital costs, accord
ing TO Captain Daniel A. J. Sullivan,
in an address yesterday before the So
ciety Of Naval Architects ard Marine
Engineers at the marine exposition in
Grand Central Palace.
Captain Sullivan presented study
OF steamship operation that proved 20
be of unusual interest to the officials
at the meeting. lie showed that wages
now paid on American vessels arc
temporarily, because of the extreme de-
preston, below those on foreign ships,
end that they should be increased to
>ttract Americans to the sea as pro-
fession. In other respects, such as
stevedoring, fuel, stores, greater econo-
mics can be effected through proper
attention. he added.
The session of the society yesterday
Was marked by several talks which
went to heart of ocean transportation
problems, especially as these relate to
American competition with other mari
slime nations. The necessity for sub
.,idies to Offset obvious inequalities was
submerged for the moment in dis
cussion of methods which should be
adopted by the steamship lines them
selves.
Surveys Standardization
e. H. Rigg presented survey Of
Standardization as affecting the ship
building industry of the United States
He said that while there are imposing
difficulties in the way of this movement
with regard TO shipping, as compared
with automobiles and typewriters, sub
stantiai progress has been made In
Great Britain, and that the precedent
should be followed in this country.
James l.. Ackerson gave the results
of experiences with Diesel. OF internal
combustion engines, declaring that for
ali voyages of more than 5000 miles
the Diesel engine is the most economi-
cal, at least when new tonnage is con-
sidered. In the case of existing steam
tonnage, such as that now held by the
Shipping Board. he said that con-
version from steam to Diesel power
would hardly be justified unless these
vessels could be bought at s25 a ton
less than those to be operated as
steamers.
The address of Mr.. Rigg was fol-
lowed closely because of The confer
ence called for to-day by Secretary of
Commerce Hoover to take up The sub
ject Of Standardization. Representa-
tives of all the important marine or
ganizations Of the city will attend
and viii attempt to work out some
practicable means of putting the plan
into effect.
The value Of engineering standards
as whole needs little defense, said
Mr. Rigg. Debatable points are main
to which standards should be carried.
Among the chief features, of interest
he outlined the following:
international agreements covering
the fundamentals common to all sea-
going ships.
Reconciliation of governmental and
classification regulations, where both
cover the same field.
Standardization of steel speciflca-
tions in its national as we'll as inter
national aspects.
Standardization Of rolled steel shapes
for shipbuilding; also with regard TO
international considerations.
Standardized machinery specifca-
ttons and methods of performing work
and benefits to be derived from up
keep problems.
Wants Minimum Equipment
Mr.. Rigg pointed out that it is easy
to fill up ship with every device on
the market. so long as the money
holds out but that it is not easy 70
provide ship with q minimum of
equipment and still have every rea-
sonabls requirement. met.
THE subject of terminal facilities
has a very definite bearing on ship
design" said Mr.. Rigg. "The intensive
study recently given to this subject
by the Association of Port Authorities
and others will exercise a strong and
steadying influence on cargo handling,
particularly as cur older wharves are
rapidly replaced in many harbors with
new piers of standardized designs
for example, the large and up-to-date
municipal piers in the harbor Of Phila-
delphia. The modern piers in New
York are familiar to all transatlantic
travellers.
BASED on accounts brought back by
interested travellers from abroad, gen
erai industrial Standardization Is being
seriously considered, also put into eff
feet, In Germany as we'll as in Britain.
The attention of all interested in our
foreign trade is called TO this. largely
on account OF the value apparently
placed abroad on the beneficial effects
OF standardization on their foreign
trade"
Could Reduce Costs
Captain Sullivan, who is considered
ST authority on ship operation, exhib-
tied comparison of operating costs on
three typical transatlantic vessels re
duced TO an average of one voyage. The
the operating expenses were included
in the four items of fuel, cargo ham
ding, wages and insurance. Three of
these items. he said. could be reduced
greatly. The remaining one, wages, he
did not believe could be cut down be-
lev the standard of living in the
United States. Txe speaker said that
ne expected good results from the com
mittee on fuel conservation appointed
by the Shipping Board, which has al
ready demonstrated notable savings.
From study of the data available" !"
said Cap+ain Sullivan, sthe writer is
OF the opinion that American ships can
hg made efficient, and, excepting the
excessive first cost, depreciation and
overhead expense, can hold their own
against any competition. To accom-
piish this result there should be closer
relations between the executives Of
companies and the masters Of their
vessels. Masters should be selected for
their efficiency and given absolute au-
thority over the operation OF their ves-
sells. Chief engineers should be select
cd likewise and given absolute author