CARDIFF-based Graig Group has placed five firm orders and secured ten
options for its Diamond 53 handymax double-hulled bulker with Vietnamese
state shipbuilder Vietnam
Ship Industry Corporation (Vinashin). The orders
are part of a ground-breaking strategic alliance which will see the
Vietnamese yards expand the range and quality of their output, drawing on
Graig's long standing experience with building high quality ships in China.
"This series of orders for our robust and practical double-hull bulker
design gives us attractive delivery positions," says Hugh Williams, ceo of
Graig. "At the same time, we can help the Vietnamese yards with the design,
with procurement, with finance and with all important quality control. Our
experience of working with yards in China to build series of ships means we
can help the yards to develop, and give confidence to our partners that
Vietnam can provide them with high quality tonnage. The Diamond 53 design
offers owners and charterers major operational cost savings, while
significantly enhancing safety and environmental protection. This series
means that owners can have that at a competitive price."
Delivery date for the first Vinashin vessels is January 2006. The ships will
be built at two state-backed shipyards, Halong, in Quang Ninh province, and
Namtrieu Shipbuilding Industry Company in Haiphong. These will be the
largest and most sophisticated vessels yet built in Vietnam. "We have
inspected the yards and are confident that with the right support they can
not only build these ships to a good standard, but will grow to become
another substantial shipbuilding centre," says Williams. "There has already
been substantial investment in modern shipbuilding equipment and practices,
with the full support of the Vietnamese government. Graig will be opening an
office in Vietnam to serve this project and other projects currently under
discussion. We see this as a logical extension of our activities in China
where we have a long history of successfully working with series
construction in Chinese shipyards."
The Diamond 53 ultra-handymax double hull bulk carrier design has been
developed jointly by Graig and Denmark's' Carl Bro after detailed
discussions with charterers. Graig and Carl Bro have a joint venture design
company based in Shanghai. The vessels will be classed with DNV: - DnV +1A1
Bulk Carrier with full Nauticus package including a full 3-D model. Fourteen
Diamond 53 vessels have already been ordered in China, and the first vessel
is scheduled for delivery this year.
Diamond 53 is a geared, wide-hatched, 53,
000 dwt handymax bulk carrier with
double hull and a high specification intended to address the current
concerns raised by IMO/IACS around bulk carrier safety. The vessel has 5
cargo holds, equipped with end-folding hydraulically operated hatch covers
and four 36 tonne electro-hydraulic luffing cranes. Further details of the
Diamond 53 design can be found on the www.graigcarlbro.com website.