Marine Log
JANUARY 31, 2013—Signal Ship Repair, Mobile, AL, a division of Signal International, Inc., achieved a significant safety milestone—1,000 days without a lost time injury—on January 30. “Safety is the number one priority at Signal Ship Repair,” commented Bob Beckmann, senior vice president & general manager of Signal International, Inc., Signal Ship Repair Division. “We have instituted a culture of safety throughout the shipyard with established procedures to sustain a safe and healthy workplace.”
Structural welders at Signal Ship Repair have yet to have any occupational injury. Photo: Aaron Tesney Photography
The achievement by Signal Ship Repair (SSR) is significant because shipbuilding and repair has one of the highest incidence rates of total nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses, according to the latest available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS reports that shipbuilding and repair had an incidence rate of 9.3 in 2010 and 7.8 in 2009. The incidence rate represents occupational injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers based on a 40-hour work week, 50 weeks per year.
SSR has several crafts which never had an injury, including: maintenance, security, inside machinist, scaffolding, carpenters, structural welders, riggers, operators, electricians, laborers, and the safety department. The painters and drydock 
crew will have attained a two-year injury-free milestone on March 15 and 16, respectively. On May 11 the pipe and structural ship fitters will be injury-free for one year.
Each employee receives a Safety License at an initial Safety Training Orientation along with continuous training. This Workplace Safety Program enables any employee the right to stop work or refuse work that may be deemed unsafe using their Safety License. Prior to a task beginning, a work permit is obtained which requires a job risk analysis be performed to ensure the task can safely be accomplished.
Established in 2010, Signal Ship Repair’s primary business is ship repair and conversion. Located in the Port of Mobile, Alabama, Signal Ship Repair’s facility is situated on 53 acres and 4,400 feet of waterfront, has two dry docks and mooring capability for vessels 1,000 feet (305 meters) in length.
Currently, Signal Ship Repair employs nearly 300 people.
MARCH 14, 2013 — Edda Accommodation, operated by Norway's Østensjø Rederi, has placed an order for a new monohull accommodation vessel at Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. The order includes an option for a second vessel.
Designed by Salt Ship Design, the next generation newbuild is 155 m long and will have a total accommodation capacity of 800 persons in one- or two-man cabins. The interior of the vessel is of executive standard, and will include 850 sq.m office space as well as recreation areas, such as modern gym, sauna, two swimming pools, conference rooms and an auditorium. Delivery of the first vessel will be in June 2015.
The newbuild will be equipped with a heave compensated telescopic gangway with a length of 55.5 m. In addition, a cargo deck area of 2000 sq.m, a 120t rig support crane and two supply cranes, will make the vessel highly suitable for cargo handling and construction support.
When finished, the vessel will provide construction support and additional living quarters for support personnel during commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning of offshore installations world-wide, including arctic areas.
The decision of ordering a new monohull accommodation vessel is a result of the successful experience with the company's existing accommodation vessel, Edda Fides. Since delivery in March 2011, Edda Fides has proven the capabilities of a monohull accommodation design, by successfully completing projects in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and Australia.
"Due to a proven concept and significantly lower investment and operating cost compared to semisubmersible accommodation rigs, the new accommodation vessels will be highly competitive in a market with anticipated fierce competition. We expect the additions to our fleet will enhance our position as a global provider of world-class accommodation services," says CEO Johan Rokstad.
APRIL 30, 2013 — Algoma Central Corporation (TSE:ALC) reported today that the London, U.K., Arbitration Tribunal hearing a shipbuilding contract dispute involving Algoma Tankers International Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Algoma Central Corporation, has found in favor of Algoma.
In 2007 the corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, entered into contracts to build three 16,500 deadweight ton product tankers at Jiangxi Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding in China. Algoma says that each contract contained provisions that permitted cancelation under certain conditions. These conditions were met in 2010 and Algoma accordingly issued notices of rescission to the shipyard seeking to cancel the contracts, and demanding reimbursement of the installments that had been advanced. The matter was taken to arbitration by the shipyard and hearings were conducted before the Tribunal in London in September, 2012.
"We are extremely pleased that the Tribunal agreed with the merits of our claim", said Greg Wight, President and CEO of the Corporation. "We will now proceed to make a formal demand for reimbursement of our instalment payments as provided for under the terms of the contracts."
"A lot of effort went into achieving this result," added Duncan Jackman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Algoma. "I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in this for their diligence and hard work."
Two Bollinger Shipyards, Bollinger Amelia Repair, L.L.C., and Bollinger Algiers, L.L.C., teamed to re-deliver the tank barge B. No. 230 and tug Ralph E. Bouchard to Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., Melville, NY
“We are pleased to announce the re-delivery of the ATB unit to Bouchard following a successful conversion, and regulatory updates at our two repair facilities," saysBollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon. "Bouchard’s confidence in our ability to deliver quality workmanship from multiple facilities allowed us to complete the two projects simultaneously. We are fortunate to continue our long relationship with Bouchard and also be a part of their continued commitment to have first class assets.”
The B. No. 230, a 138,000 barrel (BBL) black oil barge equipped with inert gas, vapor recovery and closed gauging measuring 467 ft x 80 ft x 36 ft, was docked at Bollinger’s Amelia facility for the addition of the Intercon coupler system and for regulatory work. The installation of the coupler will give the barge and tug the ability to be an articulated unit allowing for improved maneuverability and sea-keeping.
The tug Ralph E. Bouchard underwent conversions at Bollinger‘s Algiers facility, receiving additional coolers and a keel cooled John Deere 99 KW Tier 2 generator set as back up to the main generators and for powering the Intercon hydraulic system. The vessel completed renewal of all regulatory requirements, installation of the Intercon system and received life extensions.
“We are extremely pleased with another successful project with Bollinger," says Morton S. Bouchard, III, President/CEO of Bouchard Affiliates, "and are looking forward to the conversion of the M/V Barbara Bouchard & B. No. 240 to Intercon at Bollinger in the upcoming months. Bouchard values our long standing relationship with Bollinger and foresees future projects, and the delivery of the newly built B. No. 250 (55,000 bbl Intercon clean oil barge) this coming July 2012.”
Bouchard Affiliates includes Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., Bouchard Ocean Services, Inc., and Bouchard Coastwise Management.
March 27, 2012
NOVEMBER 12, 2012 — Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) reports that its Newport News Shipbuilding division launched the Virginia-class submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) into the James River on November 3.
"Launch is a significant accomplishment in the life of a submarine," said Jim Hughes, NNS' vice president of submarines and fleet support. "It's an opportunity for our incredible shipbuilders to stand back and take pride in their work. Thanks to their tremendous efforts and steadfast determination, Minnesota's progress is nearly one year ahead of schedule and has been built using about 600,000 fewer man-hours than the previous boat."
As many as 1,000 shipbuilders have worked on Minnesota, the tenth Virginia-class submarine. At about 92 percent complete, Minnesota is on track to complete in 63 months. Construction began in February 2008, and the vessel was christened Oct. 27.
To achieve her latest milestone, the 7,800-ton Minnesota was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system. The floating dry dock was submerged, and Minnesota was launched into the James River. Once in the water, tugboats moved the submarine to NNS' submarine pier, where final outfitting and testing will take place.
"It is truly awe-inspiring having been able to watch the submarine go from pieces and now launching for the final stretch of construction prior to sea trials," said Cmdr. John Fancher, Minnesota's commanding officer. "When I think of all the energy and craftsmanship of the shipbuilders that has gotten us to this point, I am humbled. The crew is excited to get their boat into the water, and I couldn't be more proud of them and all of their hard work and training."
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