shipbuilding

Gulf Island to acquire LEEVAC assets

DECEMBER 30, 2015 — Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFI) reports that it has executed an asset purchase agreement with LEEVAC Shipyards, LLC and its related affiliates  under which LEEVAC will sell

Sinopacific delivers its first Mexican market PSVs

DECEMBER 29, 2015 — China’s Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group reports that its Zhejiang Shipyard has delivered three SPP17A platform supply vessels to the Mexico’s Naviera Petrolera Integral S.A. de C.V. The three PSVs

Wartsila to power Shell’s 15 LNG fueled barges

The barges are being built for Belgium based Plouvier Transport N.V. The hulls are under construction at VEKA Shipbuilding BV’s CENTROMOST shipyard in Poland and outfitting will be carried out at VEKA’s Werkendam shipyard in the Netherlands.

The barges will operate primarily on LNG and, for each barge, Wärtsilä will also supply  a 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel main engine, a gearbox, an LNGPac fuel gas handling system (developed in close cooperation with Cryonorm), and a Wärtsilä propeller with an HR nozzle. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yards commencing in June 2016.The contract with Wärtsilä was concluded in December.

“Wärtsilä’s total solution capabilities, and its unmatched experience in LNG fuel machinery and systems for marine applications, are providing leading shipowners and operators with the added value they require. We salute everyone involved in this important project for their support in making inland waterway shipping more environmentally sustainable,” says Bram Kruyt, Director Inland Waterways, Wärtsilä.

Gladding-Hearn delivers pilot launch

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.

Chesapeake Shipuilding completes fifth hull fab building

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.

  • News

LCS downsize memo: Here’s what it says

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

Omnibus bill funds ninth National Security Cutter

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.

Cochin Shipyard awarded license by GTT

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”.

LOAD MORE