Pan-United Wins Two Conversion Contracts

Pan-United Shipyard Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Singapore-based industrial group Pan-United Corp.

Ltd., won two major ship conversion contracts totalling more than $8 million from the Philippines and Australia. The first contract calls for the jumboization of the interisland passenger ferry vesselSugbu by 66 ft. (20 m). The Sugbu, owned by Cebu-based William Lines, will be lengthened to 515 ft. (157 m) to allow it to ferry up to 3,500 passengers, as compared to the 2,600 it can presently carry. The work involves fabricating and inserting a 570-ton section into the middle portion of the vessel. Other enhancements include extending the navigational bridge section and expanding passenger accommodation space, which will take up another 170 tons of steel. Major engine works will be done to replace the two existing Pielstick engines with two highercapacity Wartsila Vasa 9R46 en gines. The other contract involves the conversion of the car carrier Don Carlos to a "super" livestock carrier to carry more than 100,000 sheep.

Both projects are targeted for completion by the end of 1994. The Don Carlos project was awarded by the Rachid Fares Group.

The work on the 656 -ft.-long (200- m) Don Carlos will involve installing systems for ventilation, water, feeding and waste disposal. Upon delivery, the Don Carlos will operate on the Australia-Middle East- Europe-South America routes.