DECEMBER 22, 2015 — Austal USA has been awarded a contract modification that adds$51,684,797 to its 10-ship $3.5 billion Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract for the U.S. Navy. The shipbuilder says the
DECEMBER 22, 2015—Crane and deck machinery specialist Rapp Marine will supply advanced equipment packages for two new oceanographic research vessels that are being built for Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) and the
Designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, the all-aluminum pilot boat is 52.6 ft long overall and has a 17-ft beam and 4.8-ft draft.
With a top speed of 25 knots, it is powered by twin Volvo Penta D16 diesel engines, each delivering 651 bhp at 1,800 rpm, turning five-bladed NiBrAl propellers via ZF 500-1-A gearboxes.
Each engine has a two-circuit Fernstrum keel-cooling system recessed into extra heavy bottom plating for operation in ice.Volvo Penta’s EVC system is mounted at the control stations in the wheelhouse and at the transom.The vessel is fitted with a Humphree Interceptor automatic trim optimization system.
The wheelhouse is outfitted with five Stidd seats and a three-zone, diesel-fired Espar Hydronic 35 heater for the cabin, main deck, and handrails. The forward wheelhouse windows feature ¾-inch electrically-heated laminated glass for de-icing. Interior sound levels are approximately 78 dba.
At the transom is a winch-operated rotating davit over a recessed platform for pilot rescue operation.
The vessel, built by Vigor Industrial’s Portland, OR, shipyard, follows towboat Crown Point, which began operations along the Columbia Snake River in May 2015.
Like the Crown Point, the Granite Point is a custom-built, environmentally-friendly towboat that was specifically designed by naval architects and marine engineers CT Marine, Edgecomb, ME, to serve Tidewater’s customers.
“Granite Point performed exactly as we wanted it to during its river trials earlier this month,” says Marc Schwartz, Maintenance & Engineering Manager at Tidewater. “We are ready for the Granite Point to team up with Tidewater’s current fleet of 16 towboats to provide our customers with the highest quality river transportation.”
Named for the granite cliff in Washington, about 20 miles southwest of Pullman along the Snake River, the towboat was built to the same specifications as the Crown Point and forthcoming sister vessel, the Ryan Point.
Measuring 102 ft by 38 ft, with a depth at full load of 11 ft, the Granite Point has a hexagonal wheelhouse with floor-to-ceiling windows on all six sides. The hexagonal design continues to the main deck, which features a galley, a media room, and a health and fitness facility.
“Tidewater understands that the ability of our crew members to cope with operational risk factors, like frequent sleep disruptions and heavy workloads, depends on their level of endurance,” says Bruce Reed, Chief Operations Officer and Vice President of Tidewater. “The responsibility for maintaining a high level of crew endurance rests with us. Therefore, all three towboats incorporate a comprehensive sound and vibration control package designed by Noise Control Engineers of Billerica, Massachusetts. The noise levels register at less than 60 decibels in the quarters during vessel operation, which is equivalent to the sound of an air conditioner.”
“When you are in the wheelhouse, which is three decks above the engines, you would really need to concentrate to hear the engines at all,” says Brian Fletcher, Tidewater Port Captain who piloted the Granite Point through river trials.
“You couldn’t ask for a quieter tug, nor a better tug in tight situations. It turns on a dime.”To meet the challenges of maneuvering barges through swift-moving currents, high winds, and eight navigation locks along the CSR System, CT Marine designed an enhanced steering system utilizing four main steering and four flanking rudders. Coupling the steering system with two Caterpillar 3516C Tier 3 engines, the design team was able to increase the margins of safety and efficiency.
“The Granite Point can ‘get up and go’,” says Josh Nichols, Assistant Port Captain, “but there is an ease and steadiness to it.”
“The up-front work paid off,” says Bob Curcio, Tidewater CEO. “The vessels are fuel-efficient, ecologically-responsible, and are giving our Captains and crews exactly what they’d asked for.”
“We are proud to have worked with Tidewater on Granite Point. Like its sister ship Crown Point, this vessel sets new standards for future towboat design. It will serve our community well for decades to come,” says Corey Yraguen, Vigor Executive VP of Fabrication.
TECHNICAL PARTICULARS
The Granite Point is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C EPA Tier 3 certified diesel engines each producing 2,240 BHP at 1,600 RPM. The engines drive two 92″ x 100″ fixed pitch, stainless steel propellers through CT28 Kort Nozzles. The vessel is capable of a service speed of 8 knots.
Electrical power is provided by two C7.1, Tier 3 generators, rated at 480 V, 200 kW at 1,800 RPM. The generators are controlled through an automatic transfer system that ensures the vessel will recover from a generator power loss in less than 30 seconds.
Deck machinery includes seven Patterson WWP 65E-7.5, 65 ton electric deck winches, with pilot house remote operation and local push button control stations on the main deck. Each winch has Samson 1 3/8″ Turbo 75 Synthetic Line.
To minimize power usage, variable frequency drives were used in all major rotating machinery applications and LED lighting was employed in both interior and exterior lighting applications.
The vessel is fitted with a Kidde NOVEC 1230 fire suppression system. Centralized fire detection and alarms cover both the machinery spaces and accommodations.
The new building is 160 feet long by 70 feet wide and 70 feet high and will allow larger hull sections to be construction in an indoor environment at the shipyard.
The building provides advanced climate control and has been fitted with two overhead cranes and state-of-the-art equipment.
It is large enough to accommodate the construction of complete tugboats or large hull sections in a controlled indoor environment.
Currently under construction in the building is an aft module of Hull 119, a 275 ft. coastal cruise ship.
The building demonstrates Chesapeake’s continuing commitment to quality and continuous improvement. The yard has upgraded its production capacity significantly in recent years, by acquiring additional land, building two new hull fabrication buildings and investing in additional automated equipment.
DECEMBER 22, 2015 — As we reported last week, Washington defense industry commentators have been much engaged by a December 14 memo sent by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to Secretary of
No mystery why the ninth NSC is in the legislation. It was put into 2016 Homeland Security appropriations bill (which was wrapped into the omnibus bill) by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, even though it was widely criticized as “an unnecessary acquisition.”
“The demands on the Coast Guard to protect our coasts and waterways from terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling and other maritime threats are not diminishing. They’re increasing and will continue to do so as its jurisdiction in the Arctic region expands. The National Security Cutter is the best weapon we have to meet that demand,” said Senator Cochran, back in June. “The current Coast Guard production goal for only eight National Security Cutters is based on dated assessments and is insufficient to meet current or future requirements,”
“I am pleased that the Senate bill would maintain the national security cutter production line in order to give the Coast Guard more certainty and capabilities to meet its operational requirements,” he added.
The NSC production line is, of course, in Senator Cochran’s home state at the Pasagoula, MS, shipyard of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding Division.
CSL received the license after successfully completing the GTT qualification process including membrane tank mock-up installation. It is the first Indian shipyard to be licensed by GTT.
“Obtaining this technology has made a significant positive change to the technical competence and stature of this yard,” said Commodore K Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director of CSL. “Going forward, we feel that this technology would help the yard to tap the huge shipbuilding prospects in the LNG vessel segment. Our partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has been a critical factor in CSL completing GTT’s stringent qualification requirements.”
Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT said that the agreement “marks the beginning of a promising cooperation with CSL. He added thta “building LNG ships in India, with the assistance of Samsung Heavy Industries, will not only enhance the initiative of the ‘Make in India’ objective of the Government of India, but will also provide excellent opportunity to an Indian shipyard in the growing LNG market”.
The MT 6022 design vessel, built in 2008 by Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven Verft A/S, features three work class ROV’s, a high-load capacity deck, and a Hydramarine main crane with a lifting capacity of 250 tonnes and a wire of 2,450 m. The vessel accommodates up to 120 people, and has a low fuel consumption thanks to its diesel electric power plant.
Rem Offshore ASA said that delivery of the vessel will take place shortly and that the sale will give it a booked profit, and net cash of approx. NOK 200 mill after repayment of debt.
The vessel is presently on a long term charter agreement with DeepOcean Shipping AS. The work scope involves subsea tree and jumper installation in up to 2,000 m water depth. Maersk Supply Service will take over this charter agreement including the option for extensions.
“Being part of a group with a strong balance sheet allows us to take advantage of the opportunities arising in the industry,” says Maersk Supply Service CEO Jørn Madsen. “This acquisition of a quality asset is fully in line with our strategic ambition of growing our subsea fleet and at the same time adds contract coverage during a period of market downturn. The work scope is well related to our area of expertise, and we look forward to working with our long-term customer, DeepOcean, on this operation.”
“Maersk and DeepOcean have a long and successful track record of cooperation on vessel charters, including the most recent long term charter agreement for the new-build Maersk Connector,” says DeepOcean Commercial Director Henk van den Ijssel. “This seven-year agreement for a market leading 7,000 t capacity cable installation vessel, arriving first quarter 2016 and already three contracts secured, shows a dedicated long term commitment from both companies.
DECEMBER 21, 2015—The power of social media continues to grow. About 1.55 billion or 20 percent of the world’s population are active users of Facebook. Reality stars, politicos, jocks, and everyday jacks
