Ship Manufacturers News

Mascoat was founded in 1995 to provide a thermal barrier solution that has revolutionized how many vessel and ship manufacturers prevent condensation, radiant heat gain, and unwanted vibration. The company strived to independently validate the coatings’ abilities so that potential customers would have confidence in choosing a relatively new technology. Mascoat’s coatings are now widely accepted as a viable alternative to conventional thermal barrier and sound control methods in many areas of a vessel. Mascoat is currently offered in over 70 countries around the world.

ClassNK granted type approval to the new 28AHX-DF dual-fuel engine built by Niigata Power Systems Co., Ltd. Whilst the adoption of emerging maritime technologies can prove challenging due in part to the time required to gain approval, ClassNK’s streamlined approval process has allowed it to complete the design approval, trial operational testing, and the overhaul inspection of the 28AHX-DF in just a couple of months before granting type approval on December 24. General Manager of ClassNK’s Machinery Department Yukihisa Shibata said, “At ClassNK we aim to promote the use of innovative technologies for the benefit of the greater maritime industry.

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

Now available from IMO is the 2010 edition of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which includes all related guidelines and consolidates all amendments to the Code adopted since the last edition was published in 2002. Amendments to the ISM Code adopted in 2004, 2005 and 2008; Guidelines on implementation of the ISM Code by Administrations (Assembly resolution A.1022(26); The complete text of SOLAS chapter IX Management for the Safe Operation of Ships, as amended in 2000 and 2005; Guidelines for the operational implementation of the ISM Code by Companies (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5); Guidance on the qualifications, training and experience necessary for undertaking the role of the designated person under the provisions of the ISM Code (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.6)…

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has selected 11 new Ship Production Panel projects, totaling approximately $756,000, designed to reduce the costs of Navy shipbuilding and ship repair. These relatively short, low cost projects were selected to complement portfolios of larger R&D projects funded through NSRP in responding to industry-consensus priorities and the Navy customer’s research areas of greatest interest. (Business Process Technologies Panel): U.S. commercial shipbuilding is important to maintain and modernize the industrial base for both new construction and repair of military ships and craft. The United States builds less than one percent of ships worldwide.

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus (CSC) co-chaired by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), met with ship component manufacturers on the impact that low rates of naval shipbuilding have had on their companies and the challenges confronting the ship manufacturing industrial base. The ship manufacturers that met with the Caucus included: Mr. Craig Hansen of BWXT/ Babcock and Wilcox in Mount Vernon, IN; Mr. Walter Herr of Fairbanks Morse Engine in Beloit, WI; Mr. Roy Arnold of IMECO, Inc. in Iron Mountain, MI; Mr. Michael Stobbart of Lister Chain and Forge, Inc. in Blaine, WA; and Mr. Terry Sterling of Nelson Stud Welding in Elyria, OH.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been approved by the USCG to perform evaluations according to the IMP Fire Test Procedures code. Prior to July 1998, individual countries could designate their own standards. Ship manufacturers were required to ensure their materials and assemblies would comply with the standards of the country in which the ship was registered. The IMO regulation established one set of international standards for all countries to follow. SwRI is one of two laboratories in the U.S. approved by the USCG to perform the IM tests and provide product control services. IMO requires the material being installed on a ship be the same or comparable to the material tested.