1-36 COALING WARSHIPS FROM COLWERS IN HARBOR. 



TIME REQUIRED TO SET UP THE MARINE TRANSFER. 



On the collier Vestal it has been found that in a comparatively smooth 

 sea the entire Marine Transfer can be set up before entering the harbor and 

 before the hatches are opened. After going alongside it is only a few 

 moments' work to drop the booms in place, take up the slack of the ropes 

 and begin discharging coal. This is possible because four independent 

 hoisting drums are employed. It is also found that after the men are made 

 familiar with the gear that the Marine Transfer can be set up nearly as 

 quickly as the "Yard and Stay." 



U. S. COLLIER NEPTUNE. 



The U. S. Collier Neptune is now building at the Maryland Steel Com- 

 pany's yard. This Company equipped the Mars, Vulcan and Hector with 

 Marine Transfers. They devoted several months to finding the simplest 

 form of coal-handling gear for the new collier Neptune. Several plans were 

 completely drawn up and the cost and weight of the supporting gear care- 

 fully estimated. 



The Marine Transfer was adopted only after all the usual methods 

 of handling coal afloat or ashore had been given careful consideration. 

 They are constructing a novel form of mast and boom to carry the Marine 

 Transfer. The mast and boom structure is practically a series of structural 

 steel tower-like masts tied together by a stiff member at their tops. Each 

 individual mast or tower carries four booms. These booms are to be out- 

 stretched when the Marine Transfers are operated. The double blocks 

 are suspended from the member connecting the tops of the masts and 

 located directly over the center of the hatches. 



The winches for this installation are of new design and will have double 

 9-inch by lo-inch cylinders. They are reversible and tlie control is so 

 simplified that one man will operate two winches. It is hoped they will 

 prove "fool-proof." 



There are two pump handle levers and one foot brake for use in operat- 

 ing the clamshell bucket. In this way the twelve hatches on the coUier 

 Neptune will be operated by twelve men instead of twenty-four as would 

 be the case had the Vestal equipment been adopted. Corresponding 

 winches have been produced that ordinary Italian stevedores have become 

 accomplished in handling in an hour's time. Metallic slipping friction 

 drums with air-cooling passages will be provided. The winches are stronger 

 thgin those on the Vestal, equally fast, and should easily deliver loo tons of 

 coal per hour as required by the Navy Department. 



