First Steel

Atlantic Marine Completes First Steel Cut

Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, has accomplished its first cut of steel for its new fleet of 226-passenger U.S.-flag coastal ships for Delta Queen Coastal Cruises. The steel cut begins construction for AMCV, who in May 1999, signed a $60 million contract with Atlantic for construction of the first two vessels, as well as an option for a third. Measuring 300 ft., the diesel-driven, coastal ships with nautical and Federal-style decor are scheduled to enter service in 2001 along the East Coast of America. "This project is on a fast track," said Scott Young, executive vice-president of AMCV and president of The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. "Four hundred tons of steel have been delivered to the shipyard and sub-assembly is underway on the vessel modules."

HII Wins $113m CVN79 Contract

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) said its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division received a $113m contract from the U.S. Navy to continue ship and propulsion plant design engineering and engineering services for the aircraft  carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). "This award allows us to continue focusing our efforts on what we do best, and that's designing and building superior warships," said Mike Shawcross, NNS' vice president for John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

NASSCO Starts Second T-AKE Ship

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) has begun construction on the second ship in the T-AKE program, a new class of combat logistics force ships designated the Lewis and Clark class. Mrs. DeAnne Sutton, wife of U.S. Navy Commander George Sutton of the NAVSEA Program Office, made the first cut on the ship's first steel plate to signify the start of construction. The U.S. Navy has awarded NASSCO contracts for six new dry cargo/ammunition ships for a total contract value of $1

Aker Philly Reaches Benchmarks on Tankers

With two tanker vessels already delivered on charter and in service to Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG), Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. (APSI) has achieved major milestones on two subsequent vessels in the build program. The third product tanker in the series, Hull 007, has been floated from its berth in the yard's Building Dock, and steel cutting has been initiated for Hull 010, the sixth vessel in the series, marking start of production on that ship.

MHI Delivers 300th Ship to MOL

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 through features

Contruction Starts on World's Biggest Offshore Floating Facility

At 1601 ft. long  x 242.7 ft. wide, the Prelude FLNG facility will be the largest offshore floating facility ever built.  A new milestone was reached in the world’s use of LNG as fue, as Shell celebrated the cutting of first steel for the Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility’s substructure with joint venture participants, Inpex and KOGAS, and lead contractor, the Technip Samsung Consortium

GUIDO PERLA, SENER to work together on SWATH project

GUIDO PERLA & ASSOCIATES, Seattle, Washington, and Spain’s SENER INGENIERIA Y SISTEMAS have teamed up to develop the detailed structure and outfitting engineering of an oceanographic research ship, designated the AGOR-26. SENER’s computer-aided ship design and production system, FORAN, will be used for the work, most of which will be carried out in Seattle by GPA staff assisted by SENER engineers. A second SENER team will be working in parallel from its Tres Cantos offices.

Meyer Werft Delivers Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line took possession of its newest ship – Disney Dream – from the Meyer Werft shipyard in a traditional maritime ceremony aboard the ship in Bremerhaven, Germany. The Meyer Werft flag was lowered, while the Disney Cruise Line flag was raised, transferring ownership from the shipbuilder to Disney. The milestone closes the book on the ship’s construction journey, which began nearly two years ago in Papenburg, Germany

Trimaran Demonstrator Progressing At VT

A new shape in navy warships is quickly taking shape in the U.K., as Vosper Thornycroft (VT) has completed structural work on the 321 ft. (98 m) Trimaran Warship demonstrator being built for the U.K.'s Defense Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). The upper bow structure, weighing approximately 25 tons, was maneuvered into position on the RV Triton, which is scheduled for launching this month. The ship will be delivered to DERA in August before starting the initial phase of a trials program

First Steel Cut for Liftboat ‘Seajacks Hydra’

A ceremony marked the event at Lamprell’s Hamriyah Dubai facility. The self-elevating, ‘Seajacks Hydra’ has been specifically designed for installation and maintenance services in the offshore wind and oil and gas sectors. The vessel will be equipped with a high speed jacking system, a 400t crane and able to operate in water depths up to 48m. Lamprell Energy has built all three of Seajacks’ current vessels; ‘Kraken’