New-York tribune., 1922-11-27
Advance in Electricity on Shin
Brings a Demand for Ne,v Ruiz.
Owners and Builders Face Necessity for Trs;n;..
Engineers; Y. > Steamboat Regulations Not psa
pared for Recent Developments G. A p;a.. : sFe g

shce gained from buildino c sxpta
sioh ana naval work the n1isbsas' ~ ~
! ilfes at sea due to electrjs;t.e. SN
nave been many times muitipi,eST SToslA
/ THE engineer has doso -,
| date, all things considered {, "sa .
for the electric plants. and ~ ~ csrirg
| edge has been gained bv III S saos9
a a.IaeiYe ana the hard knocks Of synsg y
ence, az the requirements cow. erps.f
eeiectricity in connection with ss.iss gss..i
nlp' his license are very meagef sssse Ts
cohditIon may be partly expiaincs II
tne fact that the exarnination -
gineers for licenses Is left by &. ~ :.
the local inspectors Of the Steambsss
Inspection Service, and these ;nsrsss
ors are generally chief engineers AZ az
entered the Steamboat Tnsnsos;aaaa rs
Service before electricity vas useS ssi's, !,
the extent it is to-day. 80 2
Ignorance Causes Loss
"There have been cases whs,a q.
knowledge Of the engineer la =. ~
been equal to the occasion whieS t.ua ~
come under the speakers persons, ~ 4
servation. In one case the rers.sss y
blowing of fuse on the swifsb5ssss.ss
was corrected by installing piees i1,s s
No. copper wire, with the resais u
circuit was burned open behind sa.ss sss
panel work. In another case ons 80 !
the engineers observed the tenperss,ss r,,s, Z
of the cooling water on motor dive
pump was high. He had come bv 4.
knowledge somehow that by sh;fsrs
the brushes on q motor the sueed cori,
be increased and this he proceeded Z
do TO increase the flow Of water ys,hs.
than look for the trouble elsewbs,%
The result was all the conductors VS.. s,,s.6
thrown out of the arrnature. h ~
completely ruined and had TO be 5.
wound. Being connected with a shio 4.
pair as well as q shipbuilding plant. rs
have ample opportunity to obsesvs
there are many instances when IL
fects and troubles have not had prcus,
care and attention, resulting in uufsg.
essary loss and expense. Such ara tSs
conditions as they exist to-day and
trust | have made them clear to YOU
The success of main engines an
the vessel at sea depends on the sus.
cess Of the electrical auxiliaries an
on the deck auxiliaries for the hsa,
ding of the cargo at the dock, as Ia
owner realizes the return on bis Is.
vestment from the combination Il
these features and not from indepsn.
dent sources.
"The owners, realizing and appH.
ciating the builders position, ac:edea
to our wishes to employ electrissI
men. However, they were handicappsa
in the selection of men, as mons hsa
licenses, no necessity for same, hg
never submitted to an examination sa
had no credentials, except letters lsrm
former employers. Therefore, tfa
owners have been willing to accept ths
builders advice and selection of propu
men.
Electrician Overlooked
@This is not all of the problem. TiR
electrician. having no standing, had ii
fixed pay, and it was question Of Oh,
tanning suitable men and arriving at q
salary. Further, the architect IN de-
signing ships overlooked the elects,
cian entirely, he being new coner, asa
ne was assigned to an oilers reoA
Concession and special rulings had II
be employees as. not being licensed msl,
they had no uniform; these we're latss
provided and special ruling naae y
have them eat in the engineers msss
with the uniformed licensed men.
THE licensing Of motor vessel cts
gineers, motor vessel meaning yss.
sci above fifteen gross tons propelln
by gas, fluid, naphtha or electric no.
tors, is much the same procedure after
the original license. The licensss
steam engineer may obtain 8 motag
license after three months OF COZ
structing, installing or oiling notafs
on board ship.
wireless operators must be licenses
and to insure that the operators an
suitable for the positions, requirement.
have been divided into eight CLASSES
whereas, only three grades OF eng
neers are required.
'"The question naturally arises, ha
is the problem handled on ships unds
other flags. !.
an the Scandinavian countries y
conditions are pretty mucn the saaa
as in our country. The larger vesse'
carry electricians and are rated in psa'
about as the second engineer.
SIN the British ships electricians a.'
not licensed as such, but freguenn.
licensed men are electricians, az e
some motorsfips and large steamship
with extensive electrical plant rai
electrician ranks in pay almost equs,
to the first assistant engineer, ana Il
the latest motorships carry chlS
first and second assistant engineer.
at is not to be expected that ships
should carry an extra force to the s1
tent of increasing the already hssN
expense OF operating American salFe
but rather the present we'll paid fofss
should be required TO measure up
the use of the new form of power, Ns
most efficient and flexible known e
and it is recommended sM;
proper knowledge for its use be g
quired of present and future enH'
ueers and, further, that closer insFss,,
tion be given to its installation aas
periodic inspection after the ships sss
in operation"
tion in the same customs dissrlcs =