shipyard

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Crystal ups river cruise orders at Lloydwerft, buys Mozart

Crystal Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong, entered into an agreement to acquire the shipyard in September, investing EUR 17.5 million for 70% of the new shipbuilding business and a 50% ownership of the shipyard’s land.

The decision to double the number of river cruise vessel newbuilds comes just months after Crystal Cruises unveiled its intention to embark on what it calls the “most significant brand expansion in the luxury travel and hospitality history” with the addition of Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises, Crystal Exclusive Class ocean vessels and Crystal Luxury Air.

President and CEO Edie Rodriguez reported today that in addition to adding two more river vessels at the Bremerhaven shipyard, responding to strong demand from travelers and agents for an earlier Crystal river experience, Crystal has also completed the purchase of the German built MS Mozart, the largest river cruise vessel in Europe.

Following an extensive drydocking to create the upscale Crystal experience on board, the revamped vessel will be renamed Crystal Mozart and start Danube River cruises in July next year.
 

“In response to travelers and travel agents’ enthusiasm for Crystal River Cruises, and through Crystal’s innovation, we are upping the ante once again, bringing ‘true luxury’ to the river cruise sector with the largest guest suites and public spaces, the highest crew-to-guest-ratio and Crystal’s award-winning service,” said Mr. Rodriguez. “Once the transformation of Crystal Mozart is completed, it will truly be the crown jewel of the European rivers.”

Crystal Mozart is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 meters), which is double the width of an average industry river boat. The 160-guest capacity Crystal Mozart has window suites of 203 square feet, deluxe suites of 215 square feet, a penthouse suite of 322 square feet and two, two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 860 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessels. Due to its impressive width and size, the vessel’s unique features will remain, such as the public area that spans a single level and yacht-like amenities including multiple dining rooms, a wraparound promenade, a luxurious spa and fitness center, an indoor pool, beauty salon, and library.

The four new all-suite luxury river yachts will debut in June and August 2017, boasting suites of 220 square feet, deluxe suites of 250 square feet, a penthouse suite of 500 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suite of 750 square feet.

The new vessels will feature a Palm Court with dance floor and glass domed roof, a library, fitness center, spa, and sporting equipment such as electric assisted bicycles, kayaks, and jet skis.

Designed with the maximum size to fit into the locks of rivers and under bridges, two of the Crystal River Yachts will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers with 110 guests. The other two will each have an 84-guest capacity, one will be cruising the Seine River and the other the Garonne and Dordogne rivers as well as navigating through the Gironde Estuary.

Itineraries, fares and bookings for the four new vessels will be available on November 30, 2015 (Cyber Monday).

Cat Marine inks milestone LOI with Turkish tug builder

Caterpillar calls the deal “a significant milestone” that “demonstrates Sanmar’s view that Cat power solutions are not only best-in-class today, but are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.”

The LOI covers the supply of Cat propulsion engines and generator sets to Sanmar for the shipbuilder’s newbuilding program over the coming three years.

At least 84 propulsion engines and 86 generator sets are expected to be supplied between now and 2018. These will include 26 Cat C32, 22 Cat 3512C and 36 Cat 3516C propulsion engines plus 86 Cat C4.4 generator sets.

The engines will primarily power tugboats with bollard pulls of between 60 and 85 tonnes.

Caterpillar has a long relationship with Sanmar.

“The profile of the tugboat sector is changing,” said Cem Seven, Sanmar’s Managing Director. “Consolidation means there are fewer but larger tugboat operators which are increasingly focused on bigger, more powerful vessels to meet the very best standards on sustainability. Demand is shifting to more innovative tugboats which are capable of meeting the designed bollard pull more efficiently. This is what the Cat engines help us to provide to our customers.”

Mark Harrison, Caterpillar Marine Regional Sales Manager, said: “We are delighted to have this seal of approval from one of the industry’s leaders. Our strategy is to focus of designing products to help our customers be successful. For tugs, that is high reliability at increased engine power with quicker acceleration while at the same time providing lower fuel consumption, lower emissions and increased sustainability. Cat marine engines have proven over many years to deliver this to our customers in the tug boat segment.”

Levent Altun, Group Manager at Borusan, Caterpillar’s dealer in Turkey, added: “Even with the latest design features including advanced control and monitoring systems, Cat engines are renowned for ease of operation and straight forward maintenance. Together with the company’s world-wide network providing constant customer support, Cat marine engines and after-sales services are a perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology and sound human relations.”

Sanmar now provides vessels for many of the world’s leading tug operators and recently built and commissioned a second shipyard in Turkey to handle the growing demand.

This year, Sanmar achieved delivery of 25 tugboats to owners from ten different countries, setting a new company record.

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Construction of new Shanghai Wartsila factory begins

 

After the ground breaking ceremony, CWEC signed strategic cooperation agreements with the Hudong Zhonghua and Shanghai Waigaoqia (SWS) shipyards. It also signed a Letter of Intent ]with SWS for the delivery in 2017 of Wärtsilä Auxpac 32 generating sets for three large container vessels being built at the shipyard.

The CWEC joint venture was established in July 2014 for the manufacture of medium and large bore, medium speed, diesel and dual-fuel Wärtsilä engines. The new factory will be the first in China capable of producing locally large bore medium speed diesel and dual-fuel engines. By being able to produce and deliver locally, the new joint venture will provide CSSC Group and other Chinese shipyards with closer access to the Wärtsilä range of engines with the benefits of faster delivery times and competitive pricing. Wärtsilä’s share of the joint venture is 49 percent.

Products to be manufactured at the new facility will include the Wärtsilä 26, Wärtsilä 32, Wärtsilä 34DF, and Wärtsilä 46F engines, the first of which are expected to be ready for delivery in 2016. The production capacity is planned at 180 engines per year.

“It is an honor and a privilege to celebrate this latest milestone in our joint venture journey. By combining the strengths of our two companies; CSSC’s strong capabilities as the number one ship builder in China and Wärtsilä’s industry leading technologies, we can together make an important difference in today’s challenging global marine market,” said Roger Holm, Senior Vice President, Engines, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
“

This is an important occasion for the shipping industry in China. The new factory will produce state-of-the-art marine engines that will serve our customers with value adding efficiencies. We are pleased to cooperate with Wärtsilä in this exciting joint venture,” said Wu Qiang, President of CSSC.

The CWEC joint venture will target the offshore and LNG markets in particular, both of which are growing significantly in China. It will also serve the large container vessel segment.

Rolls-Royce wins power and propulsion order for DP3 DSV

Being built to a new Skipsteknisk, Norway, designated ST-246 DSV, the 120 passenger vessel will be fitted with a 24 person SAT dive system and will have a 250 t offshore crane.

Under the contract with the shipbuilder signed by Rolls-Royce, the vessel will be equipped with the latest DP3 control system and four of the latest Bergen B33:45 generating sets. The total delivery also includes main propulsion, tunnel thrusters and remote controls.

The medium-speed Bergen B33:45 main engines, launched last year, offer a 20 percent increase in power per cylinder compared to existing engines in the Bergen range and comply with IMO Tier II and III rules.The B33:45 is designed to run for 25,000 hours between major maintenance when operating at average loads.

The vessel will be fitted with the Rolls-Royce Icon DP3 (Dynamic Positioning System) — the first Rolls-Royce contract for DP3 for a vessel built in China.

DP systems with classification 3 allow for safe and efficient operations in demanding conditions where any loss of position has the potential to result in fatal accidents, severe pollution or damage with major economic consequences.

The Rolls-Royce DP3 system has an award-winning ergonomic design. A unified look and feel to bridge controls ensures safe operation. The control system itself is closely connected with other inboard control systems and easy to integrate into a bridge arrangement. Among the many advantages, according to Rolls-Royce, is that it provides the vessel owner with a system that is easier and faster to install and commission. Fewer service engineers will also be required for service and maintenance of thrusters and controls later in the vessel’s lifetime.

Helge Gjerde, Rolls-Royce, President Commercial – Marine, said: “We are delighted to win this contract in the current difficult market. We are also pleased to welcome Jumeria Offshore as a new customer and we are looking forward to working with them on such an exciting and advanced ship project.”

skipstek 700

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Australia names preferred tenderer for new icebreaker

Computer–generated images and video of the new ship were showcased October 29 at an event attended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP, at the AAD’s headquarters in Kingston, Tasmania.

The icebreaker, designed by Danish naval architect firm, Knud E. Hansen, will be built by DMS Maritime’s subcontractor Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding at Damen’s Galati, Romania, shipyard with commissioning expected in October 2019. DMS Maritime would then operate and maintain the vessel in support of the Australian Antarctic program on a long-term basis.

Replacing the Aurora Australis, which has been in service since 1989, the new icebreaker will be faster, larger, stronger and offer increased endurance.

According to a fact sheet released by the Australian Antarctic Division, the new icebreaker will have an icebreaking capability of 1.65 meters at 3 knots compared to the existing vessel’s 1.23 meters at 2.5 knots.

The vessel will supply Antarctic research stations with cargo, equipment and personnel, and will serve as a research ship with extensive laboratory facilities on board and a multi-beam bathymetric echo sounder to enable seafloor mapping,

The vessel is expected to accommodate 34 DMS Maritime crew and up to 116 AAD scientific personnel, and has the ability to embark up to four helicopters, two landing craft and a dedicated science tender. Its physical specification is expected to be 156 m in length and 23,400 tonnes displacement.

Media Factsheets 2

 

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Cape Town naming for offshore diamond mining support boat

They are being built to carry out supply and support work for the De Beers Group’s offshore diamond mining activities and this first vessel was named Aukwatowa by Mrs Jenny Coltman, spouse of the Chairman of De Beers Group Services.

The Shoalbuster multi-purpose workboats are designed for inland and coastal waters. The 30 m 3009S has a bollard pull of 24.5 tonnes and is fitted with a crane with a lifting capacity of up to 1.7 tonnes, making it suitable for towage, buoy-laying, pushing and all-round support duties.

The two vessels ordered by Smit Amandla will operate out of Port Nolloth in South Africa’s Northern Cape. The shallow waters of the port make it accessible only to vessels with drafts of 2.8 m or less, so the Shoalbuster’s minimal draft was an important factor in Smit Amandla’s selection of the class.

The Aukwatowa was delivered on time and to budget. The trainees in Damen Cape Town’s highly-regarded Apprenticeship Program played a significant role in the project, with all of them getting the opportunity to exercise their newly-acquired skills as the vessel took shape.

The Apprentice Training Program recently received official recognition when the South African Minister of Trade & Industry, Dr. Rob Davies MP, visited the yard to present certificates to nine apprentices who have achieved Artisan status.

The training program makes an appreciable contribution to creating jobs and raising skills levels both locally and in the South African marine industry. Since 2010, 63 young people, including 19 women, have benefited from the program. The shipyard’s efforts also contribute to the South African Government’s economic change initiative, known as Operation Phakisa, one element of which is the development of the country’s maritime sector.

Meanwhile, the build of the second Shoalbuster for Smit Amandla is proceeding smoothly and on schedule for delivery in 2016. Throughout both builds, the Cape Town shipyard has had the full cooperation of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands, the yard behind the development of this class. The Dutch yard has transferred the necessary technology and provided full support to ensure a top quality end result.

“We quickly established an excellent relationship with the Smit Amandla Marine project management team,” said Damen Cape Town’s project manager Craig Trethewey. “As a result the project has gone smoothly and is on schedule. We are really pleased with progress and look forward to seeing the second vessel in the water in February next year.”

Sam Montsi, Chairman of DSCT said: “We at Damen Shipyards Cape Town believe that the economic development of our country is a shared responsibility between Government and the private sector. We are therefore proud to be part of this co-operative effort with Smit Amandla and De Beers in having the two vessels built here in Cape Town. The vessels have been built within the budgets and times agreed. We look forward to more cooperation with Smit Amandla and other vessel operators in our country.”

Damen Shoalbuster 3009

shoalbuster

JHSV program gets new name and another $53.4 million

 

The new name for the series is part of a change in ship type designators that began back in January when Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the next flight of “frigatized” Littoral Combat Ships would get the FF, or frigate, designator.

Last month, the secretary brought in a new E designator that, in addition to see the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) become the Expeditionary Fast Transport, or EPF, sees the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) become the Expeditionary Transfer Dock, or ESD; and the Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) variant of the MLP become the Expeditionary Mobile Base, or ESB.

The EPF will provide high speed, shallow draft transportation capability to support the intra-theater maneuver of personnel, supplies and equipment for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army.

Austal’s new contract action allows the procurement of ship sets for the specifications supporting integrated propulsion, main diesel generator engines, propeller and shafting, integrated bridge and voice communications.

Fiscal 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $26,739,198 is being obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The contract was not competitively procured in accordance with U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) – only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity (N00024-16-C-2217).

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Nakilat retrofits QMax’s main engines to LNG fueling

 

The project involved retrofitting two MAN B&W S70ME-C HFO-burning engines in the chartered Q-Max vessel Rasheeda with gas-burning M-Type Electronically Controlled – Gas Injection (ME-GI) Systems, which have now been successfully commissioned.

The retrofit modification meets all current and foreseen global emissions regulations.

Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) carried out the conversion at its Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard facilities in the major Qatari port of Ras Laffan Industrial City.

The project collaborators, including MAN PrimeServ, installed the ME-GI system on the vessel at the shipyard in June 2015. The partner for the ME-GI fuel supply system is TGE Marine Gas Engineering GmbH,

Christian Ludwig, Head of Retrofit and Upgrades, MAN PrimeServ, said: “This is a fantastic milestone in our company’s history. It is a lighthouse project, and there has been a remarkable partnership and cooperation through this historic conversion. Our ME-GI order book now stands at 140 orders – for different vessel sizes and applications, which we see as a compelling case for our technology to be designated the industry standard.”

Nakilat Managing Director Eng. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, said, “The success of the ME-GI project is the culmination of years of cooperation with Qatargas, RasGas and MAN Diesel & Turbo as turnkey project manager. In late 2013, Nakilat worked with our charterers to implement a pilot conversion on Q-Max Rasheeda, the first retrofit ME-GI project ever to be implemented in the marine industry. This is a milestone moment for all involved parties.”

MAN Diesel & Turbo reports that the vessel’s ME-GI units have displayed a seamless change between fuel-oil and gas operation – a key characteristic of the ME-GI technology.

The Qatar fleet comprises 14 Q-Max and 31 Q-Flex LNG carriers, all using dual MAN Diesel Turbo’s S70-ME low-speed diesel engines for propulsion.

THE ME-GI ENGINE

The ME-GI engine gives shipowners and operators the option of utilizing oil or gas fuel depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations.

The ME-GI uses high-pressure gas injection, allowing it to maintain the attributes of MAN B&W low speed engines that have made them the default choice of the maritime community.

The ME-GI is not affected by the derating, fuel-quality adjustment or methane-slip issues that have been seen with other dual-fuel solutions.

MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities for gas-fueled tonnage as fuel prices rise and exhaust-emission limits tighten. Research indicates that the ME-GI engine delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SOx emissions, with its negligible methane slip makes it the most environmentally friendly technology available.

An ME-LGI counterpart that uses LPG, methanol and other liquid gases is also available and has already been ordered.

 

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Havyard wins order for 90 m fishing vessel for Danish owner

 It  will be the largest pelagic fishing vessel within its segment.

The vessel is to be delivered from Havyard’s Myklebust shipyard Q4 2017 and is being built to SALT 0155 design, developed in a close cooperation between the shipowner, design company Salt Ship Design and Kleven.

It will be able to operate in full diesel electrical mode, in diesel mechanical mode or in a combined hybrid mode. A total 7,720 kW of power driving a 5 m propeller will deliver a bollard pull of more than 130 tonnes.

Norwegian suppliers involved in the project include Brunvoll, Scana Volda, Hareid Elektriske, Karmøy Winch and Havyard MMC, which will provide a complete fish handling package consisting of loading systems from shipside and stern with double drainage, collecting bins and closed distribution to thirteen fish tanks, three MMC SX RSW (Refrigerated Sea Water) systems, remote controlled valves for RSW and ballast systems, quantity calculator for loading of fish, MMC vacuum pump system with tanks and vacuum unit for unloading, ozone system for cleaning of pipes and tanks and automation systems for remote control of MMC systems from deckhouse, control room and bridge.

In all, the vessel will have an RSW tank carrying capacity of 3,600 cu.m and an RSW cooling capacity of approx. 4,000 kW.

“We are very pleased with a new contract so quickly after Salt in September this year signed its first contract in fisheries,” says Egil Sandvik at Salt Ship Design. “Being assigned another large fishing vessel less than two months later is more than we expected.”

“Unlike the current offshore market, fisheries and fish farming are doing very well and these segments represents an increasingly important market for Salt,” he adds.

Great Lakes Shipyard holds a double celebration

The sponsor of the Commissioning Ceremony was Karen W. Penale, Real Estate Administrator – Western Region, New York Power Authority – Niagara Project.
Breaking the traditional bottle of champagne, she declared “I name this tugboat Joncaire II. May God bless here and all who will sail on her.”

Joncaire II and its sister vessel will be used to service winter operations at the Niagara Power Plant in Buffalo, NY. They will augment and replace aging vessels that are used for the installation, removal, and maintenance of the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom and for various associated marine construction projects.

Construction for the first tug began last April. The second tug is scheduled for delivery in late-2017.

The new tugs are specially reinforced with heavy stems and shell reinforcement for operations in seasonal ice. The design of the conventional drive tugs includes elevated pilothouses for improved visibility when maneuvering and a spacious work deck aft to facilitate ice boom connections.

In 2010, Great Lakes Shipyard built the New York Power Authority’s new 80′ x 34′ Ice Boom Operations Barge, which incorporates a Terex 80-ton pedestal mounted lattice boom crane.

KEEL LAYING

The tug commissioning was followed by a separate ceremony, marking the keel laying of a new 3,400 H.P. tugboat to be built for Regimen de Pensiones y Jubilaciones del Personal de la Empresa Portuaria Quetzal, Guatemala, Central America. Representing the owner at the ceremony was Eduardo De Jesus Paiz Lemus, Presidente Junta Administrador.

Congresswoman Marcy C. Kaptur, U.S. Representative of the 9th District of Ohio, the principal speaker, commended the Company indicating that “We are fortunate to have a company like Great Lakes – their industry is the gift that keeps on giving. They are [through their education programs] passing on skills to the next generation, who will keep this country great.”

Congresswoman Kaptur also paid compliments to the company’s team – paying special recognition to Ronald C. Rasmus, President of the Great Lakes Group.

She highlighted the significance of the achievement, “To create here, in the heart of America, a shipyard; a place that faces global competition every day, is no small achievement. It is extraordinary. Look at all of the suppliers that benefit from your efforts.”

The tugboat is being built under a contract awarded this August. It will be another of the company’s HandySize Class 3,400 HP twin-screw tugboats and will be used for harbor towing operations in Puerto Quetzal; a growing commercial cargo, container, and cruise port on the Pacific coast of Guatemala.

The buyer, Regimen de Pensiones y Jubilaciones del Personal de la Empresa Portuaria, is a pension benefits plan for port employees and retirees who operate a commercial tugboat service in the port under a Port Authority franchise for the purpose of ensuring future retirement benefits.

Representing the Regimen at the ceremony was Eduardo De Jesus Paiz Lemus, Presidente Junta Administrador, who inscribed his signature on the keel plate declaring that “The keel has been truly and fairly laid.”

The HandySize Class tug was designed by Jensen Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, Seattle, WA.

Set for delivery next year, the tug is specifically designed for harbor work and coastal towing. It is 74-feet long with a beam of 30 feet, and a design draft of 11.5 feet. It is to be built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards and its Cummins QSK-50 main diesel propulsion engines, each rated at 1700 BHP@ 1600 rpm meet US EPA Tier III emission regulations delivering superior fuel economy, durability, and reliability.

In recognition of the significant achievement for a U.S. domestic shipyard in competitively concluding a foreign sale, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and the U.S. Embassy, Guatemala City, was represented at the ceremony by Antonio Prieto, Sr. Trade Specialist, who was credited by the company with facilitating the transparent negotiations and sale.

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