The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-01-03
Launch First
Foreign Ship
AT Yard Here
Americuloide Is
One Of Ia Vessels
Ordered By Brozil

The first ship to be launched
for a foreign country in an Amer
lean shipyard since the close of
World War II, the S. s. America
loide, streamlined cargo vessel
under construction for the Off
cial Brazilian Merchant Marine,
Lloyd Brasileiro, will be formal
ly consigned to the water Friday
at the ingalls, Shipbuilding Cor
poration's Pascagoula yard.
The Americaloide is the fore
runner of a series of ID ships for
which the local yard holds the
contract. Already on the ways
+ the Brazliloide, Cubaloide,
Mexicoloide, Panamaloide and
Santo Domingoloide.
Christening the Americaloide
will be the wife of the secretary
of the Brazilian embassy in Wash
ington, Mario Gibson Barboza,
and the ceremony will be held
today, Friday, at HAS a. m. Orig
inally announced as the sponsor,
Madame Carlos Martins, wife of
the Brazilian ambassador, was
unable to be present. Accom-
panying Mrs. Gibson, is her hus-
band and a party of friends who
arrived from Washington Thurs
day evening.
A sleek example of the design
for this group of ships, the Amer
icaloide In ultra-streamlined and
modern with cruiser stern and
speed boat-type bow. The former
heavy smokestack has given way
to a small outlet resembling a
king post located at the back of
the superstructure.
The ship is 442 feet long with
10000 ton displacement and a
59-foot beam. She will be man.
ned by a crew of So men who will
be housed aboard in comfortable
and nicely appointed quarters
for the officers and men.
These ships are designed for
the run from South America to
North America and are equipped
with tanks for the transportation
of important edible oils as well
as facilities for a large quantity
of dry cargo.
They will be completed here
and sailed away from the yard
by a crew of Brazilian officers
and men, the first group of which
is presently in training at a spe-
cial instruction center here.
Last of Dredges
Almost simultaneously with
the beginning of a new series of
vessels came the ending of an
other which was marked by the
launching TUESDAY of the last of
four mammoth U. S. Army En-
gineer dredges-the "Biddle".
This dredge was named in honor
of the late Major General John
Biddle who spent 40 years in
prominent connection with the
Engineers Department.
Bestowing the name o the YES
sci, which with it's three prede-
cessors is one of the largest of
its type in the world, was Miss
Helen Louise Douglas, grand
niece of Major General Biddle.
She was accompanied from De-
troit by her father, Gilbert Doug
las, and her mother who was her
matron of honor.
The fair weather which has
prevailed for Ingalls, launchings,
with few exceptions. failed this
time and the Biddle was launched
in rain, cold and wind. Miss
Douglas missed the bow when she
swung the christening bottle as
the ship was cut loose from the
restraining plates on the ways
but later when the vessel had
been berthed in the wet dock she
made another, and successful, at
tempt and properly baptized the
Biddle with champagne.
The sponsor wore a pastel blue
silk dress with a camefs hair
coat and brown accessories and an
orchil corsage.
PROBLEM IS NUTS