Newbuild Contract

Bollinger Wins Major Newbuild Contract

Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C., Harvey, La., and K-Sea Transportation Corp. of New York have signed a contract for the construction of four double hull, ocean service, OPA '90 oil barges. The barges will have capacities of 80,000 to 100,000 barrels - terms were not disclosed. The barges will be built primarily for oil service on the Northeast U. S. coast. They will be coupled with existing K-Sea tugs using a connection system designed and delivered by Acomarin Engineering. The system will provide increased operating efficiency and will enhance the safety and reliability of the units. The new barges will feature double block cargo segregation, segregated ballast, cargo monitoring and vapor recovery systems as well as advanced electrical and hydraulic systems. Formerly known as Gretna Machine & Iron Works, a multi-use construction and repair/conversion shipyard, its previous owner had dedicated the 66 year-old facility exclusively to repair and conversion work in October 1997. Modules for all four barges will be fabricated at Bollinger Marine Fabricators Amelia, La and shipped to Bollinger-Gretna where they will be joined to other components produced at Bollinger-Gretna, where final assembly and installation of piping and other systems will be completed. Delivery of the first barge is planned for summer of 2002, with delivery of the remaining three barges scheduled at regular intervals.

Feature: Innovative Coastal Trader

By David Tinsley, technical editor An advance in hydrodynamic design has been endorsed by Norwegian energy group Statoil, as the prospective charterer of an innovative newbuild intended for coastwise distribution of oil products. The 4,200-dwt vessel contracted by Bergen Tankers will employ a diesel mechanical propulsion layout based on twin azimuth thrusters incorporating 'pulling' propellers. The project represents the first application of the Norwegian-developed Azipull system in the

Ready to Burn: Fast Ferry Market Looks Good

Predicting business trends in the notoriously fickle marine business is difficult if not impossible. Yet when developments transpire as they have in the fast craft niche of the ferry business, it is difficult to not read the writing on the wall. The business of designing, building, outfitting and operating fast ferries in the United States is set to take off, as increasing pressures from traffic and environmental concerns force more people to the waterways.

The Containership Market: Full Steam Ahead?

By David Tinsley, Technical Editor Liner shipping is traditionally a cyclical business, subject to dramatic peaks and troughs and sudden changes in fortune in individual trade lanes. Today's ebullience among all sectors of container shipping, including its various intermediaries, compares starkly with the situation in the latter part of 2001, when the market had hit a low point and the prophets of doom were out in force

ABS Nautical Signs 30 New Contracts, Doubles Staff

ABS Nautical Systems, provider of integrated fleet management software for the maritime industry, announced it has experienced record growth in the second half of 2009. During that period, which began with the launch of the Newbuild Program, ABS Nautical Systems has expanded their business by signing 30 new contracts in just 26 weeks. ABS Nautical Systems expects to continue its momentum and forecasts even stronger growth in 2010.

Keppel to Build New Generation Accommodation Semi

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has been awarded a contract worth about US$260 million by returning customer, Floatel International Ltd (Floatel), to build a new generation accommodation semisubmersible (semi) for delivery in 1Q 2014.   This new rig developed by Keppel O&M's Deepwater Technology Group, will be built to the SSAU4000NG design with Dynamic Positioning (DP) 3 capability. It marks Keppel FELS' third accommodation semi project with Floatel

Meet the ULFPS

While seeking to consolidate its existing LNG carrier workload by bidding for new tonnage to serve the Qatari export traffic and other projects, Spanish shipbuilder IZAR has intensified its research endeavors so as to create a broader business platform in the energy market. The group has thrown its weight behind a new initiative aimed at developing floating plant incorporating gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology to extract and convert gas from remote offshore fields into premium grade liquid

Fincantieri Awarded Cruise Ship Order

Silversea Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for one 36,000-GRT, 540-guest, ultra-luxury vessel from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009. The line has also signed an option for a sister ship with Fincantieri, Shipping Times has reported The agreement with Fincantieri is conditional to final contract and financing. However, an irrevocable banking commitment, fully underwritten

Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 5-Year Contract

Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) announced that the ultra-deepwater drillship Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 has commenced operations in India under a five-year drilling contract with Reliance Industries Limited. The company currently expects that Reliance will sublet the rig for the first four years of the contract to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, and that Reliance will operate the rig for the fifth year of the contract.

Drydocks World Newbuild Contract

Drydocks World - Southeast Asia Pte Limited, the Southeast Asian subsidiary of Drydocks World, announced that it has secured a newbuilding contract with Scottish Highlands International Inc., a subsidiary of Coastline Maritime Pte Ltd, to construct a 689-ft Ultra Large Multi-Purpose Offshore Construction Vessel. DDW-Sea operates four shipyards in Singapore and on Batam Island Indonesia providing offshore rig construction, volume shipbuilding and ship repair and conversion services