Maersk Tankers orders nine for $300 million

 

They will be built by shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries, which will deliver them from its Ningbo shipyard in China in 2017 and 2018.

Claus Grønborg, Maersk Tankers VP and head of business development, said the ships “will support our Taking the Lead strategy in the product segment and maintain our strong focus on cost effectiveness. The renewal of our fleet will help us to stay environmentally efficient, competitive and better equipped to meet our customers demands.”

TTS Group: first the good news, then the other

The total order value is approx. MNOK 112, under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, South Korea, for Maersk. TTS has previously delivered similar equipment between 2012 and 2014 for another 20 vessels built at same shipyard for same shipowner.

The winches will be manufactured at TTS’ factory in Korea and deliveries will take place 2016 – 2017.

The less good news comes from subsidiary TTS Offshore Solutions AS in Bergen, Norway. It is to implement temporary workforce reductions with immediate effect.

A workforce of approximate 30 full-time equivalents will be temporary laid off, while another approximate 20 full-time equivalents will be contracted out to other TTS companies.The adjustment affects approximate 40 percent of the workforce of TTS’ offshore operations in Norway and Poland.The adjustments are in response to the current offshore market situation.

Jobs ax swings at Newport News Shipbuilding

“There’s no good way to do this,” the Virginian-Pilot reports Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin as saying, adding that the swiftness of laid-off workers’ departures was largely related to the fact that the shipyard is a secure facility.”

Though the abruptness of the dismissals came as a shock, the layoffs themselves came as no great surprise.
Back in July, the shipbuilder warned workers that, as work on three major aircraft carrier projects winds down, layoffs lay ahead for both hourly paid and salaried employees. It projected that 500 jobs would go this year and another 1,500 plus in 2016.http://bit.ly/1KnifmT

In a “Dear Shibuilders” letter and accompanying FAQ, issued at that time, Mr. Mulherin said “remember that the workload valley has both a beginning and end as our workload increases again in 2017.

“”We will issue 60-day notices to all affected employees,” the workers were told. “Employees will be expected to work during the 60-day notice period.”

However, because the actual number of layoffs was kept below the 500 number, Newport News was not required to give advanced notifications and the workers separated from the company on the day they were laid off.

Seventy seven of those laid off who have the appropriate skills will have the opportunity to return to an hourly trade job.

NYK takes delivery of Japan’s first LNG fueled tug

NYK has chartered the tug to Wing Maritime Service Corporation, another wholly owned subsidiary that operates 20 tugboats at the ports of Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Chiba and which will operate the Sakigake mainly in  Yokohama and Kawasaki. It is the second environmentally-friendly tugboat to be operated by Wing Maritime which took delivery of the hybrid tug Tsubasa in March 2013.

The Sakigake is equipped with twin Niigata 6L28AHX-DF dual-fuel engines, each developing 1,618 kW. They are the prime movers for a the 360-degree steerable Niigata Z-Peller propulsion system.
The DF engines can use either of LNG and diesel oil, depending on conditions. Compared with conventional tugboats that use marine diesel oil, Sakigake emits about 30 percent less carbon dioxide, 80 percent less nitrogen oxide, and absolutely no sulfur oxide when using LNG as fuel.

NYK says that the small size of most tugboats, the limited amount of space, and the large variation in engine power make it difficult to create an LNG fueled tugboat. Keihin Dock was able to achieve the desired level of environmental performance while maintaining the same hull form and steering performance of existing tugboats. To do this, the shipbuilder made full use of its knowledge and technical strengths, and worked closely with both Niigata Power Systems and Air Water Plant & Engineering Inc.  to develop equipment for supplying LNG.

LNG will be supplied by Tokyo Gas Co and delivered to the vessel from a tanker truck at a pier in Yokohama, with a successful trial fueling being carried out in July.

The project received subsidies from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which support projects promising energy-saving logistics and innovative maritime transport improvements. ClassNK also provided joint research support.

The NYK Group has already ordered the world’s first LNG-fueled car carrier, in addition to an LNG supply vessel, and the group is set to participate in the LNG bunkering business.

Saab Kockums cuts first steel for A26 submarine program

Kockums says the A26 has the ability to perform in all oceans and across a broad spectrum of conflict environments. A unique A26 design feature is a Multi Mission Portal for the launch and retrieval of a mix of mission payloads such as manned and unmanned vehicles.

“We have left the design phase behind and begun construction of the A26, a pillar of Sweden’s future naval defence,” says Gunnar Wieslander, head of Saab’s business unit Saab Kockums. “The A26 is a new standard bearer; a step forward in the Swedish tradition of modular design and building, it ensures maximum operational effectiveness with a lower lifecycle cost. With the A26 you can always adapt the submarine to the mission in hand. Now that production has started it is a clear signal to other potential customers around the world that Saab is ready to deliver to them as well.”

The first two A26 submarines are being built under contracts worth a total SEK 7.6 billion placed by the Swedish Defense Material Administration in June this year. The first boat will be delivered in 2022.

The submarines will be powered by conventional diesel-electric propulsion machinery and equipped with the Kockums Stirling AIP (air-independent propulsion) system, making them stealthy and difficult to detect.

Dynagas to order five ARC 7 LNG carriers for Yamal

Dynagas will build five 172,000 cu. m ARC 7 LNG carriers at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. shipyard in South Korea. They will serve the Yamal project under long term time charters. The vessels will be capable of breaking 2.1 meter thick ice in both the forward and reverse direction.

In addition, four of Dynagas’ existing ARC 4 LNG carriers will come into the Yamal shipping fleet to support Yamal deliveries committed to Asian buyers from year 2019 onwards and will be time chartered for a period of 15 years each.Yamal LNG is a joint venture between NOVATEK (60 percent), TOTAL (20 percent) and China National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) (20 percent). The project consists of three LNG trains with a total capacity of approximately 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum.

“The award of five long term contracts for the ARC 7 LNG carriers and award of four long term contracts for our existing ARC4 LNG carriers is a testament to our long term commitment and our manager’s operational excellence and expertise in operating high specification ice class LNG carriers,” commented Mr. George Procopiou, founder and chairman of Dynagas.

Dynagas Holding Ltd is a holding company engaged in the ownership of LNG carriers and owner of 44% of the equity interests in Dynagas LNG Partners LP (NYSE: DLNG), including the General Partner interest.

Seadrill cancels rig order at Hyundai Heavy

The unit was ordered during the second quarter of 2012 and the delivery date stated in the construction contract was by December 31, 2014.

“Due to the shipyard’s inability to deliver the unit within the timeframe required under the contract, the company has exercised its cancelation rights,” says Seadrill, which notes that, under the contract terms, it has the ability to recoup its $168 million in pre-delivery installments to the shipyard, plus accrued interest.

In fourth quarter 2012, Seadrill was awarded a five year contract for the West Mira with Husky Oil Operations for operations in Canada and Greenland.

In its second quarter earnings report, Seadrill reported that, due to the late delivery of West Mira, the company had tentatively agreed with Husky to reduce the dayrate of the West Mira drilling contract.

Seadrill says it remains in discussions with Husky to find an alternative solution to meet its drilling requirements.

Silver Ships delivers survey boat to USACE

The Corps will use the all-welded aluminum vessel for surveying the waters in both the Gulf of Mexico and rivers of the New Orleans District. Designed and engineered by naval architect Lou Codega, PE of Smithfield, VA, the vessel’s hull form is designed to handle the short choppy seas of the Gulf Coast regions.  

The survey boat can achieve a top speed of 28+ knots with a range of 300+ miles and operates at a cruising speed of approximately 25 knots. Power is provided by twin Caterpillar C18 diesels rated at 803 hp each and coupled to Twin Disc v-drive gears.

The pilothouse has full, unobstructed 360° visibility from the operator’s station at all vessel speeds. All interior spaces on the vessel are climate controlled by two 18 kBTU and one 12 kBTU air conditioning systems. Pilothouse accommodations include Mylar shades, hydraulic/suspension seating for a crew of two plus a dinette settee for four. Forward cabin accommodations include an enclosed berthing area for four, Magna Germ Type 2 marine sanitation system with private head, shower, full galley and hanging storage locker.

Navigation and communications equipment includes two Raymarine E165 radar/chartplotters and two ICOM M506 VHF radios and Carlisle & Finch 12″ searchlight.  Onboard electrical service is supplied by 12/24 volt DC power. A 21.5kW Caterpillar C2.2 diesel generator and 60 amp shore power are provided, supplying 120 and 240 volt auxiliary power to the boat.

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Pulling plug on China yard, Algoma turns to Uljanik

These contracts with Uljanik are contingent upon delivery by the shipyard of acceptable security for the construction instalments required under the contracts. The contracts with Nantong Minde were canceled earlier this year.

“Our experience with the Uljanik Group on the Equinox 650 Class project has given us confidence in the shipyard’s ability to deliver high quality vessels on the agreed timelines,” said Ken Bloch Soerensen, President and CEO of Algoma. “Our Equinox project has faced significant delays as a result of the financial problems encountered by Nantong Mingde shipyard. Working closely with Uljanik, we are confident in the continuation of Algoma’s fleet renewal project.”

These new Equinox Class ships will feature a boom forward configuration designed to provide greater flexibility in certain delivery situations. The vessels will have an overall length of 225.55 m (740 ft) and a beam of 23.77 m (78 ft), qualifying as Seaway Max size ships. The vessels will carry 29,300 tonnes at maximum Seaway draft.

The new Equinox vessels will have all of the features of the existing Equinox design, including the exhaust gas scrubber technology pioneered by Algoma on the Great Lakes in its first Equinox Class gearless bulk carriers. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2018 with the balance of the ships set for deliveryby the end of that year.

Algoma says it is “continuing with other parties on further fleet renewal opportunities.”

Second “enhanced” RAmparts tug joins Harley Marine

The Lela Franco, named in honor of the  wife of HMS founder Harley Franco, is a sister ship to the Michelle Sloan delivered earlier this year. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., both tugs were built at shipbuilder Diversified Marine Inc.’s Portland, OR, shipyard.

The Lela Franco is the sixth tractor tug HMS has added to its fleet in under two years, improving its ship assist and tanker escort capability and bringing more horsepower to the U.S. West Coast. Like its twin sister the Michelle Sloan, it is an enhancement of HMS tugs the Tim Quigg and John Quigg, built in 2004 also by DMI. These enhanced designs developed by Robert Allan Ltd. feature a wider hull, increased bollard pull performance, improved crew accommodations, and a modified skeg.

Particulars of the Lela Franco are as follows:

The tug was designed and constructed to satisfy all applicable USCG rules and regulations and meets or exceed classification society minimum scantling requirements. Tank capacities are as follows:Fuel Oil:          32,800

On trials, the vessel achieved an average bollard pull, ahead, of 69.0 short tons and a maximum of 71.3 short tons, Astern, average bollard pull was 65.4 short tons and maxium was 67.4 short tons.  Free running speed, ahead, was 12.5 knots   

The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a normal operating crew of two, with accommodations for up to six persons. The Master’s cabin is located on the main deck, with two additional double crew cabins located on the lower accommodation deck. There is also a galley and mess room located on the main deck.

The deck machinery comprises a Markey DEPC-48 render-recover type ship assist hawser winch on the bow, spooled with 500′ of 9″ line, and a Markey DEPC-32 towing winch aft with a capacity of 250′ of 6-1/2″ line. In addition, a capstan is installed on the fore deck to facilitate line handling operations.

The raised forecastle and elevated wheelhouse ensure good all-round visibility of the working decks and when handling large barges with high freeboard. The higher freeboard feature also provides a high standard of seakeeping when working in exposed waters, but is configured so as not to impede the ability of the tug to work closely under the flare of the newer generation of large ships.

Main propulsion power for each tug is provided by a pair of CAT 3516C diesel engines, each rated 2,575 bhp at 1,600 rpm, and each driving a Rolls-Royce US 205 Z-drive unit, with a 94.5″ diameter fixed pitch propeller.

The electrical plant consists of two (2) identical CAT C6.6 diesel gen-sets, each with a power output of 125 ekW, 60 Hz.

Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one tier of 36″ OD x 18″ ID cylindrical fender at the main deck level, with 12″ loop type Schuyler fenders between the main deck and the knuckle, 11″ laminated bow fenders below, and 12″ hollow D style fenders along the stem and skeg. Tires and 8″ hollow “D” fender provide protection at the main and forecastle sides and sheer lines, and 12″ loop type fendering is used at the stern.

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