Hot weather was the main reason that caused the hang-up of a 10,500 ton ship during its attempted launch at the Bach Dang Shipbuilding Industry Company in the northern port city of Haiphong on June 17. During the launch, the prow of the Sun Island, or Noma 2, touched the water but the remaining part of the vessel did not make it despite being tugged by another ship.
According to official explanation from a shipyard’s engineer, the paraffin wax for lubrication on the slip-away had been melted due to the high outdoor temperature of over 42ºC, leading to increasing friction during the launch and hampering the ship from entering the water.
Fortunately, the ship has not been damaged by the incident. Together with applying technical measures, the company is waiting for high tide, that is to espected to come in ten days for the next launch of the vessel. The incident will not affect the delivery of the ship scheduled in August, affirmed the company’s general director Chu The Hung.
The Sun Island is 110 x 18.8 m and 13 mn high. It was designed by Japanese Wada Bussan Company and built under a contract inked with Japanese NOMA Marine Transport Company under supervision by Japan’s Registry. This is the second vessel Vietnam has built for NOMA. The first vessel was Stella Cosmos of 6,380 tons.
(Source: www.nhandan.com.vn)