CHEM CARRIERS

Mitsubishi Engines for Chem Carrier

Chem Carriers, the Sunshine, Louisiana-based cargo carrier, once again chose Mitsubishi engines for its new M/V Dorella Banta. The 70 ft x 28 ft x 10 ft, 131-ton towboat was built by Rodriguez Boat Builders.  The twin engines, supplied by Laborde, are Mitsubishi S12A2 series rated at 850 hp at 1,940 rpm.  The 12-cylinder, 34-liter engines are EPA compliant.  The vessel is equipped with 7:1 reduction gears, allowing the engines to turn 75 inch x 73 inch four-blade stainless steel propellers in a 76 inch Type 19A Kort Nozzel. Founded in 1994, Chem Carriers operates 27 barges and 6 towboats carrying chemicals such as caustic soda.  For more than 25 years, Laborde Products has served the Gulf Coast region by distributing Mitsubishi, Yanmar and Hatz diesel engines, as well as FPT/Iveco gensets.  The company packages its own diesel-powered generators, pumps, pressure washers and other custom diesel equipment. (www.labordeproducts.com)

Hyundai Mipo Gets Chem Carrier Contract

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard reportedly won a $60 million order to build two chemical carriers. Following this announcement, the builder's orders to build and repair vessels so far this year to $980 million. - (Reuters)

Astilleros Espanoles Delivers Innovative Chem Carriers

Astilleros Españoles Sestao and Juliana yards have delivered the first two vessels of an inventive series of six stainless steel product/chemical carriers, Stolt Sea and Stolt Sun, both of which have joined the fleet of Stolt Parcel Tankers - the world's largest operator of its kind. One of the most outstanding features of the series of ships are their capability of simultaneously carrying a wide variety of cargoes. Made possible by an extremely compartmentalized cargo arrangement

Odfjell JV Contracts New Chem Tanker

Odfjell's 49% owned joint venture company Odfjell Dong Zhan Shipping (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, has signed a contract for the building of a 8 200 dwt chemical tanker. The ship is a fully coated IMO II type carrier that will be built in China by Zhoushan Penglai Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. The construction of the ship has already started, and delivery is scheduled for late November 2008. Odfjell will be directly involved in the building process and inspection at the building site

New & Notables

Bahamas Receives New RoPax Service Ten years ago, a RoRo passenger service called Sealink, commenced in the Bahamas — operating from Nassau to port of Governor's Harbor on the adjacent island of Eleuthera. The vessel that performed this service was an aging 14-knot Greek ferry, which established a solid market within the RoRo sector. Despite its healthy growth spurt, the venture ceased in 1993 resulting from rising repair costs and maintenance, specifically in the machinery department

China Shipping Devt Orders Dry Bulk Carriers, VLOC

China Shipping Development Ltd said it will pay more than $800m for 10 dry bulk carriers and four very large ore carriers. It said the dry bulk carriers were ordered from subsidiaries of its parent, China Shipping (Group) Co. Six carriers of 57,300 dead weight tons and four of 57,000 DWT will be delivered by June 2012 at the latest, the company said. They will be used to transport coal and other bulk cargo. The purchase is subject to approval by independent shareholders of China

Qatar Gas Transport to lease 10 LNG carriers

Qatar Gas Transport Co said it will lease 10 South Korean-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, bringing the size of its carrier fleet to 16. The company said it signed a contract with Qatar Liquefied Gas Co to acquire seven 'QFlex' carriers and three 'QMax' carriers on 25-year lease. The 10 vessels, which will be constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries, will enter service in January 2009

BV Launches LNG CAP

Bureau Veritas launched a unique Condition Assessment Program for LNG carriers. The CAP works in a similar way to existing Harmonized CAP programs for oil tankers, but has special requirements unique to LNG carriers. Speaking at the SIGTTO annual meeting in San Francisco today, Bruno Dabouis, commercial manager of BV said, "The LNG market is opening up and there are signs that a spot market for LNG carriers may further develop

OSG Orders Four Product Carriers

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. will build four 73,500 dwt coated Panamax product carriers, or LR1 tankers, at the SPP Plant and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. based in Tong Yang, South Korea. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011. As product trades continue to shift and globalize, OSG is enhancing its fleet of larger size product carriers in order to better service its customer base. Larger size product carriers are more economical for customers

Korean Firms Win Qatar LNG Carrier Contracts

The Samsung Heavy Industries Co., has won a $1.14b deal to build four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The deal from Qatar Gas Transport Co. Ltd. calls for Samsung Heavy to build the four carriers worth $286 million each by February 2010, the company said in a regulatory filing. Meanwhile, the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipyard, said Monday it had received a $1.22 billion order to build five LNG carriers.