TTS Marine AB received a contract to fabricate a new slewing stern ramp and weathertight stern door for the third Cape R ship owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. The contract, signed with ship manager Keystone Shipping Services for the Cape Ray, follows the successful conversion of the sister ship Cape Rise and the Cape Race where the conversion work will start during the fall of this year at North Florida Shipyard with assistance from TTS Marine Inc.
The new slewing ramp and stern door are part of a conversion that includes replacing the existing straight stern ramp/door, hydraulic system and controls. The ramp, approximately 50m long, is capable of being slewed both to port and starboard as well as being deployed straight astern and is designed to allow the simultaneous loading of two M1A1 tanks. The ramp is also capable of in-stream
RoRo operations in Sea State 3. The new ramp will increase the operational flexibility of the ship, allowing it to meet a broader range of quay requirements, tide conditions, and cargoes.
TTS’ delivery includes design and complete delivery of all equipment, including a new hydraulic power pack, as well as supervision of the installation, which will take place in a US shipyard. Delivery of TTS’ equipment for Cape Ray is scheduled to be completed during the first half of 2012.
“These ships need to be ready to sail at short notice because they are used as surge vessels to support the movement of military or aid cargo,” said Mitch Koslow, Keystone’s Vice President of Engineering. “TTS is an important member of the project team as our equipment supplier and an integral part of the installation design effort. TTS’s input into the integration of the stern ramp and its systems – hydraulics, electrical, piping and structural – into the ship’s existing systems was vital to the success of the Cape Rise as well as the Cape Race projects. Everything is built around the TTS equipment.”