XN000022-1975-02-15 — Page 4

3.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1975.

THE TASK OF KEEPING 176 VESSELS AFLOAT

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THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD, WHICH IS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, HAS AN ARDUOUS TASK TO PERFORM TO KEEP THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT FLEET IN TOP SEAWORTHY CONDITION ALL YEAR ROUND AND TO OPERATE THE FLEET OF LAUNCHES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT FLEET CONSISTS OF 176 VESSELS. THESE VESSELS. RANGING FROM SOPHISTICATED POLICE PATROL BOATS TO CRUDE RUBBISH BARGES. CAN FORM A LINE STRETCHING ALL THE WAY FROM CENTRAL TO THE JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER.

THE TASK OF UPKEEPING THESE VESSELS RESTS ON THE 1,200 WORKERS IN THE DOCKYARD WHICH IS UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

OF THESE WORKERS, 700 ARE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING 500 CREWMEN. THE REMAINING 500 ARE EMPLOYED BY 16 PRIVATE CONTRACTORS."

+THEY ALL WORK UNDER THE SAME ROOF AND BUSINESS IS KEPT AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE+, SAID THE SENIOR MARINE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE DOCKYARD, MR. KHIN HLA,

MR. KHIN KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AND THINKS NEITHER A WHOLLY GOVERNMENT-OPERATED, NOR A SOLELY PRIVATE- RUN BUSINESS OF THIS NATURE IS PRACTICAL ENOUGH TO KEEP SUCH AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

+WE KEEP OUR OWN STAFF SO THAT WE ARE NOT TOTALLY RELIANT ON THE CONTRACTORS IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FLEET+, HE SAID.

UNDER THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT WORKERS CARRY OUT ROUTINE CHECK-UPS WHILE THE CONTRACTORS, OPERATING ON A TENDER BASIS, LOOK AFTER MAJOR OVERHAUL WORK. THE WORK INCLUDES HULL AND DECK CHECKS AND ENGINE MAINTENANCE,

OVERHAUL WORK IS DONE ON THREE SLIPWAYS, TWO OF WHICH HAVE CONCRETE COVERS. THESE TWO COVERED SLIPWAYS ARE USED TO HANDLE VESSELS BELOW 300 TONS WHILE THE OPEN ONE CATERS FOR LAUNCHES UP TO 500 TONS.

MINOR REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT. SUCH AS COOKING, ELECTRICAL. PLUMBING AND STEERING SYSTEMS, ARE DONE IN THE VARIOUS WORKSHOPS.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD MOBILISES THE WHOLE MARINE DEPARTMENT FLEET.

+

/÷THE FLEET