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Aker Yards News

25 Feb 2020

Mitsubishi Wins Fin Stabilizer Order

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment (MHI-MME) has won a rare order to supply two retractable fin stabilizers for two 148-passenger Luxury Expedition Vessel being built by Helsinki Shipyard of Finland.Both fin stabilizers are scheduled for delivery to Helsinki Shipyard by the first half of 2021, said a press release from the Japanese  smart technology group.These vessels will be used for Polar cruises from Europe to the North and South Poles, depending on the season. The fin stabilizers will reduce the roll of the vessels at sea and help provide a comfortable voyage for passengers.This is the first fin-stabilizer order from Europe in 12 years since the 2008 order from Aker Yards.

12 Dec 2017

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Looks for New Investor as Sanctions Bite

Arctech Helsinki shipyard (Photo: Eric Haun)

Russian state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is looking for a new owner for its Arctech Helsinki shipyard as sanctions against the holding company hamper business, the head of the shipyard said on Tuesday. The shipyard is the world’s biggest builder of vessels that can navigate ice-covered waters, and it has expected more orders as melting sea ice opens the Arctic to more shipping, mining and oil drilling. However, following the Ukraine crisis and back-to-back East-West sanctions, Russian ownership has complicated the shipyard’s access to finance.

15 Sep 2015

Sanctioned Shipyard Hopes for Icebreaker Deals

On a sunny day on the Helsinki seafront, sparks fly from steel welding at the bustling Arctech shipyard, which seems insulated from Finland's economic recession as it strives to meet an order book that stretches into 2017. The world's biggest manufacturer of icebreakers, or ships that can navigate ice-covered waters, Arctech is poised to benefit from an expected flurry of activity in the Arctic, which is being reinforced by U.S. President Barack Obama's Arctic push. As climate change is melting sea ice and opening the Arctic to more shipping, mining and oil drilling, icebreakers will forge waterways for other ships, carry out rescue missions and do stand-by duties for oil platforms in the region.

13 Mar 2014

Solar Solve Attracts Cruise Ship Orders

Royal Caribbean Cruises Navigator of the Seas

Solar Solve Marine has received a number of recent orders for its class approved roller screens to be installed at the navigation bridge windows on cruise ships. One significant contract was for Royal Caribbean Cruises Navigator of the Seas – a Voyager Class Cruise Ship. Her keel was laid at Aker Yards, Finland in 2000 and the ship was launched in 2002. She is 138,279 GT and can carry 3,114 passengers plus additional crew, with a length of 1,020 feet and beam of 157.5 feet she is still one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

11 Apr 2012

Fincantieri Said to Bid for STX OSV Stake

Fincantieri SpA, the Italian state-controlled shipbuilder, is among final bidders for a stake in STX OSV Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest maker of offshore support vessels, said two people with knowledge of the matter. An investment fund also made an offer, one person said, declining to identify the bidder. South Korea’s STX Group, which is seeking to sell its 51 percent stake in Singapore-listed STX OSV, may conclude a deal next month, the person said, asking not to be identified because the process is confidential. STX Group’s stake is worth $809 million based on yesterday’s closing price, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Singapore’s takeover guidelines require any buyer of more than 30 percent of a publicly-traded company to make an offer for the rest of the stock.

06 Apr 2012

Cochin Shipyard Delivers Second AHTS Craft

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered the AHTS, “SCI Kundan”, bearing the Hull No. The protocol documents of the ship were signed by Capt Devadas, Sr Vice President (Technical & Offshore Services) for Shipping Corporation of India, Mumbai and Mr P Vinayakumar, Director (Technical) on behalf of Cochin Shipyard. The function was attended by Cmde K Subramaniam, CMD, CSL and senior officials from CSL and SCI. The vessel is of AH03 type, designed by STX OSV, Norway (ex- Aker Yards) and is certified under dual class by American Bureau of Shipping & Indian Register of Shipping and is registered under the Indian flag. This 65.2 x 16.0 m vessel is a high end anchor handler with a capacity of 120 T Bollard pull…

11 May 2010

Cruise Ship Building at SMM 2010: September 2010

Cruise ship building will again be a prominent at SMM 2010, the 24th international shipbuilding fair at Hamburg Fair site from 7 to 10 September 2010. The big exhibitors will include the stands of Fincantieri, Meyer Werft and STX Europe. These shipbuilding companies in the cruise vessel segment are coming to the SMM 2010 with well filled order books. SMM 2010, 24th shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg, showcases some 2,000 exhibitors from 60 nations. In this most demanding segment of the shipbuilding industry, the yards had orders for a total of 25 cruise vessels with 2.15 million gt, worth USD 14.8 billion in their books at the beginning of April 2010, according to Seatrade Insider.

09 Dec 2009

Schat-Harding 370-Person Lifeboats to Cruise Ship

Photo courtesy Schat-Harding Group

Lifeboat and davit manufacturer Schat-Harding has delivered the world’s largest lifeboats, complete with unique davit systems, to the Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. The Oasis of the Seas is equipped with eighteen of Schat-Harding’s unique, 370-person CRV55 lifeboats and LS45 davit systems. The CRV55 has a catamaran hull, which provides excellent sea-keeping capability and maneuverability. The LS45 davit, meanwhile, is a completely new integrated system for cruise vessels.

30 Sep 2009

SNAME Focused Panel Sessions, 2009 Meeting

The focused panel sessions at the Society of Naval Architects and Engineers (SNAME) Annual Meeting and Expo (October 21-23 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island) will feature four timely topics: Electric Ships; Renewable Energy from the Oceans; Unmanned and Autonomous Ships of the Future; and Ship Efficiency in the Greenhouse Gas Era. Each two-hour panel session will be chaired and moderated by experienced SNAME members. Each session will have three leading experts who will make thirty minute presentations on their area of expertise, followed by a moderated thirty minute discussion period which will include questions and answers from the audience.

02 Jul 2009

Kjelstad Appointed EVP of Aker Solutions

Karl Erik Kjelstad has been appointed executive vice president and member of the executive management team at Aker Solutions. Kjelstad will lead the development of the strategic initiative related to oilfield services and the company's fleet of marine vessels. Kjelstad will report directly to the CEO, and will work with Aker Oilfield Services and marine partner DOF to realize the potential of recent investments. Kjelstad, formerly Senior Partner & President, Maritime Technologies of Aker ASA, has been with the Aker group since 1998. He was President & CEO of Aker Yards ASA from January 2003-June 2007 and currently serves as Chairman of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA, Aker Oilfield Services Ltd, and Aker DOF Deepwater.

03 Mar 2009

Ferries Features MacGregor RoRo Outfit

Brittany Ferries’ new 24,641gt RoPax ferry Armorique will shortly enter service for the Western Channel operator featuring a vehicle access outfit from MacGregor. MacGregor has unrivalled experience in developing marine cargo handling and offshore load-handling solutions, and is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world's leading provider of cargo handling solutions used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centers, and ships. Armorique has been designed specifically to run between Plymouth in the UK and the Breton port of Roscoff in France.

26 Feb 2009

Strategic Marine Opens Shipyard in Vietnam

Western Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine officially opened its $16.3m (USD) shipyard in Vietnam on February 24, demonstrating that the company is confident it can ride out the current global economic turmoil. Strategic Marine Chairman Mark Newbold told several hundred dignitaries and guests attending the grand opening that the Vietnamese yard had already won more than $61.8m in orders. Newbold said with three other yards in Australia, Singapore and Mexico, the company was currently constructing 63 fully-financed vessels with an order book value of $164.2m…

07 Nov 2008

STX Europe Refinances Credit Facility

STX Europe has refinanced its revolving credit facility. The new facility is a 3 year financing of $86.8m, provided by Nordea. Woori Bank of Korea, is participating with 50 percent. "For a capital intensive industry like ours, where we continuously take on and complete new shipbuilding projects, the ability to constantly renew our financial platform is important. I am pleased to see that we have been able to work with and secure this significant credit facility in October, while there has been much focus on the international financial turbulence. I believe that our ability to finalize this transaction is an illustration of the importance of close and long-term relationship with financial institutions…

04 Nov 2008

Aker Yards Now STX Europe

Aker Yards, builder of cruise and offshore vessels, changed its name to STX Europe. The name change reflects the entry of the South Korean-based STX Business Group as principal shareholder in the company during summer 2008. Effective Nov. 3, the international shipbuilding group Aker Yards, with head office in Oslo, Norway, and all its subsidiaries, will share the common brand STX Europe.STX Europe specializes in designing and building advanced cruise ships and purpose-built vessels for offshore oil and gas operations, and other specialized ships. All the largest cruise ships in the world were built or are currently under construction at STX Europe's yards.

03 Nov 2008

Wärtsilä Powers 5 Aker Yards Vessels

3D drawing of the LNG-fuelled Platform Supply Vessel being built at the Aker Yards' facility at Søviknes, Norway

Wärtsilä has signed major contracts with Aker Yards AS Søviknes and Aker Yards AS Trading - the recently established project development arms of the Aker Yards Group - for the supply of propulsion equipment for five offshore vessel projects being built in Norway, India and Brazil. The orders cover the supply of a total of 15 Wärtsilä engines, as well as power generation, automation, and other ancillary equipment. For the Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) being built at the Aker Yards facility in Söviknes, Norway, Wärtsilä will supply three 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF engines.

30 Oct 2008

MAN Diesel Logs Historic Order

In this way, the engine’s end user, based P&O Ferries is anticipating the 2011 implementation of the second stage of the IMO MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI emissions regulations. Worth over $46.3m, the contract centering on the 48/60CR was signed by Jari Kujala, Purchasing Manager, Aker Yards Oy, Rauma, Finland and Prof. Dr. Wolfram Lausch, Senior Vice President at the MAN Diesel Marine Medium Speed Business Unit. The contract covers the main propulsion and onboard power supply equipment for two large ROPAX ferries being built by Aker Yards for P&O. On the engine side, for each ship MAN Diesel will supply four inline seven cylinder type 7L48/60CR main engines, each rated 7,600 kW at 500 rpm and four gen-sets based on inline seven cylinder type 7L 21/31 engines, each rated 1463 kWe at 1000 rpm.

08 Sep 2008

Aker Yards Names New COO

Aker Yards has appointed Sang-Ho Shin as Chief Operating Officer (COO).   Shin comes from a position as vice president of STX Shipbuilding in , where he has been chief for the Jinhae shipyard. Sang-Ho Shin has held several senior management positions within the STX group since 1980, and has a university education within industrial strategy and mechanical engineering.  Aker Yards, Mr. Shin will focus on production efficiency, procurement, logistics, knowledge transfer, technology & innovation.

05 Sep 2008

Buoyant Industry, but Analysts Worry about Acquisition Boom

Samsung Heavy Industries' overcrowded shipyard boasts about 40 months' worth of orders, yet analysts say that the seemingly buoyant shipbuilding industry may soon be heading into a multiyear downturn, and that bold efforts to buy up other shipbuilders - currently led by Hyundai Heavy Industries and STX Shipbuilding - could backfire in a costly way, IHT reported. Analysts say that new ship orders are dwindling and shipbuilding shares have not yet hit bottom. The slowing global economy is hurting worldwide trade and rising steel prices are squeezing shipbuilders' profit margins. Meanwhile, STX Group, the South Korean company that is the parent of STX Shipbuilding, is finalizing its buyout of Aker Yards, the biggest European ship maker.

18 Aug 2008

STX Group Sales Rise

The STX Group said it expects to meet this year's sales target of $24b, thanks to earnings from its affiliates STX Pan Ocean Co. and STX Shipbuilding Co. In the first-half of this year, STX's group-wide sales stood at 13.2 trillion won, up 87 per cent from the same period last year, reports said. Group-wide operating profit in the first half more than doubled to 880 billion won. STX is now in the process of taking over 's Aker Yards after buying a controlling stake in 's biggest shipbuilder for $800 million. Source:  Yonhap

14 Aug 2008

Aker Yards to Build Two for MSC

Aker Yards and MSC Cruises have signed a contract for building two cruise ships of Musica-class. The vessels will be built at Aker Yards, and delivered in February 2011 and February 2012, respectively. The contract is still subject to financing.

11 Aug 2008

Aker Yards Weigh STX Bid

Aker Yards shipbuilding said that a 1.3-billion-dollar bid by STX of South Korea underrated the company's potential, but advised shareholders to accept against a background of weak results, AFP reported. The group reported a temporary slowdown of cruise-liner construction and downgraded its profit margins for the full year. And it said that the takeover bid, worth 6.8 billion kroner (850 million euros), although undervaluing the group's potential, was worthy of serious consideration in the current climate. The group reported a second-quarter net loss of 135 million kroner (16.9 million euros), its third quarterly loss running, from a profit of 200 million euros in the second quarter of last year. But sales surged by 31.4 percent to 7.9 billion kroner, the company said.

11 Aug 2008

Aker Yards to Build Ferries for P&O

Aker Yards and P&O Ferries have signed a contract for building two car-passenger ferries for the Dover-Calais service. The total contract price for both vessels is approximately EUR 360 million. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The contract includes options on a further two vessels of the samedesign.The vessels will be built in Aker Yards, Rauma. Becoming the largest ferry in the means a 49,000 GT vessel with the length of 210 metres and having 2,700 lane metres of vehicle space.

06 Aug 2008

Technical Committee Discusses Flexibility in Ship Design

The new "Technical Committee on Risk Management" of Germanischer Lloyd was established to respond to the growing significance of risk-based approaches for the maritime industry. The new committee's main objective is facilitation and consolidation of industry's needs related to the application of risk-based methods for future profitable maritime business. The new "Technical Committee on Risk Management" comprises representatives from all stakeholders of the maritime industry, namely ship owners and operators, ship builder and maritime systems' suppliers, insurance and engineering service providers. Guido Schulte, Head of Concept Design and R&D Department Akeryards, was elected as chairman; further members of the Committee are Dr S. Gerhard (Allianz), Mr M. Guenther (Hamburg Süd), Mr M.

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