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Steel Ship News

06 Feb 2024

Austal USA Plans New Facility and Shiplift in Mobile

(Image: Austal USA)

Shipbuilder Austal USA announced it is planning to boost capacity at its Mobile, Ala. shipyard with the addition of a new manufacturing facility.The infrastructure expansion, which will be to the south of Austal USA’s current waterfront facility, will include a new assembly building, waterfront improvements, and a new Pearlson-designed shiplift system. Start of construction on the project is planned for summer 2024.The construction of this new building and waterfront support area continues the expansion Austal USA began in March 2021 with the groundbreaking of the steel panel line.

24 Jan 2024

Aurora Botnia - RoPax Ferry + Greentech Proving Ground

Photo: Wasaline

Built by Rauma Marine Constructions, in Rauma, Finland, and launched in 2021, the 150-meter-long Aurora Botnia boasts a long list of onboard equipment that help it to earn its “green” designation, a label that is confirmed via a Clean Design notation from classification society DNV. The ship is also compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.Wasaline CEO Peter Ståhlberg describes Aurora Botnia as “a masterpiece of cooperation” and noted that the vessel is over 80% domestic made."I'm really proud of the Aurora Botnia.

12 Dec 2022

Great Ships of '22: MV George III, LNG Containership

Photo Copyright Toby Manuput/The Pasha Group

Operating on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from day one in service, the MV George III, the first of Pasha Group’s two new ‘Ohana Class’, Jones Act-qualified containerships, features a state-of-the-art engine, an optimized hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller. George III is the first LNG-powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii. The 774-ft. Jones Act vessel surpasses the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels.

05 Oct 2022

Incat and ABB to Develop Lightweight Hybrid-electric Ferry

(Image: Incat Tasmania)

Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania will work with technology company ABB to explore building an electric ferry with hybrid-electric propulsion which could transition to battery power as shore charging becomes available.Seeking a transitional route to zero-emission operations for the ferry segment, Incat and ABB will evaluate the suitability of the ‘Incat 148E’ - a 148-meter-long roll-on roll-off passenger (RoPax) catamaran for operating in hybrid mode as well as adapting to full battery operation at a later stage.Conceived by Revolution Design…

11 Jul 2022

Austal USA Begins Building Its First Steel Ship

The start of construction of the T-ATS 11 on the new steel line at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. (Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA on Monday said it celebrated the start of construction on the company’s first steel ship, a U.S. Navy Navajo Class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS 11).“It seems like only yesterday we were breaking ground on our steel shipbuilding facility and here we are, a little over a year later, beginning construction on our first steel ship,” said Austal USA Vice President of New Construction, Dave Growden.Austal USA, which has built a number of aluminum vessels for government and commercial customers…

12 Apr 2022

Austal USA Opens New Steel Facility

(Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA hosted a ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new facility which adds steel shipbuilding capability to the company’s well-established aluminum shipbuilding expertise.“We are so excited to see our plans to add steel to our capabilities come to fruition,” said Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh. “The addition of steel capability is a game changer as it opens up our capability to support the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and other customers with high-quality ships.

29 Nov 2021

Austal USA Partners With Steel Provider SSAB

(Image: U.S. Navy)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has entered into contract with local Alabama steel provider SSAB to provide steel for the new Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships (T-ATS) it is building for the U.S. Navy.Austal said it will source various strength and sized steel plating from SSAB capable of being cut, shaped, welded, and fitted resulting in the construction of support ships and potential combat ships for our U.S. military.“SSAB not only provides us with quality steel…

12 Nov 2021

In the Shipyard: Austal USA Opens Ship Repair Business in Mobile

Harley Combs, Director, Austal West Campus Ship Repair. Photo courtesy Austal USA

Known best for its construction of U.S. Navy warships, Austal USA in September 2020 acquired waterfront property along the Mobile River and established a commercial ship repair facility. Mike Bell, Austal’s VP Operations and Harley Combs, Director, Austal West Campus Ship Repair discuss the plan. Austal USA’s long-established shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., is a modern ship manufacturing factory, one of the largest aluminum warship builders in the world producing new ships for the U.S. Navy.

20 Sep 2021

Ship of the Month: Mercy Ships and the Quest to Build Global Mercy

Global Mercy is diesel electric (4 x Wärtsilä 6L32s, just under 3MW).  Designed by DeltaMarin in Finland, the ship uses ABB pods for propulsion for a 12-knot service speed. Photo courtesy Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is known globally for its charitable work performing medical procedures in developing countries. For the first time, the organization has a new ship, Global Mercy, recently delivered from a shipyard in China. Jim Paterson, Marine Executive Consultant, Mercy Ships takes Maritime Reporter & Engineering News inside the construction of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.Jim Paterson already had a career and Chief Engineer’s Certificate when he joined Mercy Ships nearly 34 years ago, in search of a life change to make a difference.

09 Jan 2020

Great Ships 2019: T. Elinor

Photo: RMK Marine

Adnan Nefesoğlu, RMK MARINE’s CEO, thought a short moment and  replied by reflecting his self-confidence “Yes, we can do”, when the local client came and asked RMK MARINE in early 2016 that: “We have two main engines, procured eight years ago and standing in a depot since then. They have Tier I feature. Can you convert them first to Tier II compliant engines, to be followed with Tier III compliant features, make them fully operable and then can you build two ships around 15.000-16.000 dwt…

23 Jul 2018

Cammell Laird Leads Welding Research Project

John Eldridge, principal engineer at Cammell Laird (Photo: Cammell Laird)

Merseyside shipyard and engineering services company Cammell Laird has won a £1.5 million tender with Innovate UK to develop electron beam welding technology in the shipbuilding, offshore and nuclear sectors.Cammell Laird will act as primary contractor to test the equipment at its Birkenhead site using its team of welders and engineers, together with partners TWI Limited which will provide research, and support in welding codes and standards. The third partner, Cambridge Vacuum Engineering will manufacture the electron beam machine.John Eldridge…

09 Jul 2017

Training Flight Deck at Sea Comes to Australia

Australia’s new multirole aviation training vessel MV Sycamore has recently arrived in Sydney. Designed to support Defence helicopter training, having been launched in Vietnam in August 2016, built by Skelder and overseen by Serco Defence, the 94-metre ship is a flight deck equipped sea-going training vessel for the crews of most types of helicopters used by the Australian Defence Force. Captain Al Whittaker said building of the Damen-designed steel ship began in 2015. “Sycamore has completed its harbour acceptance testing, systems factory acceptance testing and the shipyard acceptance tests,” he said. The ship arrived in Sydney on June 26, where her flag state was changed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s red ensign.

16 May 2014

Elmer A. Sperry: Pioneer of Modern Naval Tech

“Here’s one of the best pictures of your father and at the same time one of the few which was taken showing him actually using the gyrocompass. I suggest you keep this for your records.”   Note to Elmer Jr. from  Robert B. Lea, July 8, 1937 (Photo: Hagley Museum and Library)

Elmer A. Sperry casts a long shadow over the history of modern naval, nautical and aeronautical technology, one few people know much about, but should, for a man crowned both the “father of modern navigational technology” and “the father of automatic feedback and control systems,” as well as a pioneer of rocket and missile technology. “It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress,” eulogized Charles Francis Adams III, Secretary of the Navy from 1929-1933, on the death of engineering genius Elmer Ambrose Sperry, June 16, 1930, at 69.

12 Mar 2014

Peel Ports Pulls Out all the Stops

Operations team docks crucial bulk steel vessel at Port of Liverpool container terminal in order to overcome weather delays and provide an innovative customer-centric solution, which brings added value to customer supply chain. Peel Ports are never one to complain about gloomy weather, staying true to their values of being more than just a port; the owner and operator of the Port of Liverpool demonstrated innovative thinking and flexibility to solve challenges by taking on the elements.

20 May 2013

ClassNK Updates Steel Ship Survey/Construction Guidance

Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda

ClassNK announced the release of the latest versions of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. These versions include all amendments dated May 17, 2013. Among the amendments made to the Rules and Guidance this time is the establishment of the “Rules for the Inspection and Registration of Maritime Labor Systems.” Shipowners can now apply to ClassNK and request inspections of their Maritime Labor Systems conducted in accordance with the above amendment.

25 Apr 2013

ClassNK Releases 2013 Steel Ship Rules

ClassNK released the 2013 edition of the Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. ClassNK continuously reviews, updates and amends its technical rules and guidance as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the safety of life and property at sea, and to protect the marine environment. This year’s edition of the rules and guidance contains a number of amendments made in 2012, reflecting its latest research outcomes, damage investigation and analysis of actual cases, amendments to statutory rules and regulations and requests from the maritime industry. Amendment: New requirements for the Energy Efficiency, etc.

09 Apr 2012

U.S. Navy: The Business Case for a Titanium Ship

Friction stir titanium welding is conducted at the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Michoud, Louisiana. (UNO-NCAM photo by Dr. Greg Dobson)

Participants at a workshop exploring the use of titanium structure for ships found that it is not only possible to construct a ship hull from titanium—or Ti, it could be cost effective. The workshop was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and hosted by the University of New Orleans, where an ONR research program on titanium ship structures is being conducted. Representatives of the shipbuilding industry, titanium suppliers, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force labs, and academia discussed and examined materials, processes and applications. Most ships today are primarily made from steel.

18 Jan 2012

US Navy: DDG 1000's Composite Deckhouse Milestone

Composite materials are used to make cars, planes and boats, and have been used to build minesweepers and small surface combatants. Now, the largest composite structure ever built—the DDG 1000 destroyer deckhouse—has been fabricated in Mississippi and is being shipped to Maine for assembly aboard the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). In this dramatic example of a “shared build,” General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the lead yard, but the superstructure and hangar are being built at Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Ship Systems) Composite Center of Excellence at Gulfport…

29 Dec 2010

Proposed ASTM Standard to Cover Use of Doublers in Ship Repair

Many ship owners and operators repair ship structures with temporary steel patches known as doublers. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, as well as other maritime authorities, usually allow such patches until the ship’s next inspection period, which can be as long as three to five years from the date of repair. Despite this situation, there is not currently a standard for repairing steel hull ships with doublers.Subcommittee F25.01 on Structures is now working on a proposed new standard that will cover doublers: ASTM WK30649, Guide for Steel Ship Structure Repair Doubler Plate Design. The subcommittee is part of ASTM International Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Technology.

02 Jul 2008

MHI Delivers 300th Ship to MOL

The first ship to MOL was the CHIKUGOGAWA MARU, a cargo-and-passenger ship delivered in May 1890.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) delivered MOL COMPETENCE, a large-size containership, to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) at the Koyagi Plant of MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works. The container ship marks the 300th vessel delivered from MHI to MOL. The 8,100 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), 90,000 gross ton MOL COMPETENCE is the largest container ship built by MHI. It is one of a series of ships targeting reduced weight and improved transportation efficiency…

28 Oct 2003

Maritime Exchange Urges Bush to Repeal Tariffs on Steel Imports

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, in a coordinated effort with business leaders and local longshore unions, today called on President Bush to repeal the Section 201 tariffs imposed on steel imports in March of last year. This action was taken following the release of the International Trade Commission (ITC) report on the effects of the steel tariffs on domestic steel-consuming industries and domestic steel producers. In a letter to President Bush, Maritime Exchange President Dennis Rochford, cited the adverse economic impact these tariffs have had on the tri-state regional port complex. "Steel ship arrivals will drop from 210 last year to 150 by the end of this year.

23 Apr 2004

Steel, Ship Prices Soar

Soaring steel prices are now a major concern for leading shipbuilders. Uncertainty about spiraling material costs is even causing some yards to defer new orders, market reports indicate. “The lack of steel in some shipyards of the three major shipbuilding nations is causing newbuildings for 2007 and 2008 to be delayed,” says New York tanker broker Poten & Partners in a recent market report. “Some shipyards are not accepting any more ship orders beyond late 2007 or 2008 delivery because of the lack of berth availability…

12 May 2004

News: Steel, Ship Prices Soar as Tankers Stay Firm

Soaring steel prices are now a major concern for leading shipbuilders. Uncertainty about spiraling material costs is even causing some yards to defer new orders, market reports indicate. "The lack of steel in some shipyards of the three major shipbuilding nations is causing newbuildings for 2007 and 2008 to be delayed," says New York tanker broker Poten & Partners in a recent market report. "Some shipyards are not accepting any more ship orders beyond late 2007 or 2008 delivery because of the lack of berth availability, insecurity stemming from the dollar's weakness, as well as uncertain steel cost," the broker says. China may as well build ships, says Poten, as "they're taking all the steel".

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