sorry i had brain fade
the barge was a dump scow and we converted into a suction dredge
BTW
the navy dry docks in vallejo, dock number one was built by the Chinese after they finished the intercontinental rail road. the stepping all around that make up the graving dock interiors were built by them, all hand hued granite
the dynamo that ran the pumps has all been restored the windings are enormous. well worth the trip to see
1 Like
I am a volunteer engine room crew member on the SS John W Brown in Baltimore. It’s an incredible, fully operational steamship with its original triple expansion engine. We do 2 living cruises a year and usually have the ship open to the public on most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Engine room is fully open to tour when static, and in operation visitors can go to the mezzanine level and see the engine operating and look down on the lower level from there, as well as visit the bridge.
I highly recommend checking it out!
Kp
7 Likes
I have had a number of ex-naval colleagues, all engineers, die of Mesothelioma. Warships built during WWII and up until about the 70’s were full of it.
We didn’t appreciate the danger at the time.
2 Likes
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that asbestos was a miracle substance that was used in every variety of ship, not just warships. It was also used worldwide, not just the US. My first ship was full of it, and our policy and instruction to crew members was to keep it encapsulated and don’t eff with it. Now we know better.
Sure, it was used everywhere. Smoking+abestos=cancer. Either one is a cancer risk. but combined they are far worse and everyone smoked back then.
Before his death in 1980, actor Steve McQueen stated that he believed his exposure to it while in the Marine Corps is what caused his illness (and ultimately, his death), having spent a considerable amount of time aboard a troopship at one point removing asbestos lagging in bulk with no mask or respirator.
2 Likes
My elementary school was loaded with it & that was probably the main reason it was closed down. The first home I bought had asbestos in the attic in the form of a golden, Fruity Pebbles type little nuggets. I was told to leave it be but I used a tyvac suit, googles, respirator mask & shopvac to get rid of it. I latter bought an investment property that has asbestos shingles as siding & they’re still there. I just keep painting over them. All of that, just like the asbestos used in all ships built around the world from 1910-1980 has very little to with the awesomeness of the Liberty Ship program during WW2, our Greatest Generation & their phenomenal shipbuilding capacity. If someone starts a thread on how cool 1967 Mustangs were I’ll be pissed if some Karen starts making comments about how bad the mpg or seat belts because all cars back then had the same problems.
1 Like
he was a heavy cigarette smoker all his life
Yes, and he also wrapped his face in asbestos soaked rags before racing.
Those were his own thoughts on the diagnosis. Lots of heavy cigarette smokers go through life without any issues at all — I’m sure that thought crossed his mind before recalling the troop ship busywork he was given as a low ranking Marine.
Three million Rosie the Riveters, Black, white, Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, Everybody from Everywhere Americans, played a vital role in building these ships. And planes. And tanks. And etc. We wouldn’t have won the war without them. In my research I have found little to indicate they faced any substantial discrimination. We were needed and our work was well done and appreciated. We got the job done. No, I’m not a Rosie but any girl has a kinship with them. What they did helped open the door for women like myself to enter the man’s world of seafaring and do equal work for equal pay, thanks to the unions. I salute them. --Wendy Joseph, AB Unlimited (ret.)
4 Likes
You are correct. Asbestos was ubiquitous because it was pretty fireproof and a good insulator and it was used for that purpose. People thought it was a lifesaver at the time, keeping buildings from burning down, slowing the spread of a fire and allowing people to escape. It was only later they realized how deadly it was. Any kid who went to school before the 1970’s sat in a classroom built with asbestos and painted with lead paint. As long as the asbestos didn’t get airborne you were OK. Like DDT insecticide and some strong cancer drugs, the cure can be as bad or worse than the disease. But we dumb humans do have the capacity to learn from our mistakes, correct the problem insofar as it is possible, and move on to the next mistake. It took a long time for doctors to realize that bloodletting didn’t cure diseases, or that sanitation was paramount for good health, or that smoking caused cancer. Really, it’s amazing that the human race has survived!
1 Like
the big difference between a liberty and a victory was the engine. liberties were triple expansion steam.
Victories were steam turbines which were a little faster.
I worked for a few guys that were captains on liberties during the war.
I worked in san Franisco when the Jeremiah Obrien came out of the moth ball fleet.
the first thing these guys did when they went aboard the ship was to walk just forward of the house and look for reinforcing double plate strips along the deck welded down in the longitudinal direction.
welding was in its infancy at that time and the ships deck would fracture athwartships just forward of the house..
later they change the shear clamp area to rivets as a way of stress relief.
Later, I would see this same thing on some of the older APL ships