American Bureau Of Shipping Classification News

French multinational naval engineering company Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) announced several advances in its technology development process.The American Bureau of Shipping classification society issued the "LNG Cargo Ready" rating to GTT for its latest VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier) model, a first in the ethane sector. The rating certifies that the ethane carriers can be used to transport liquefied natural gas without having to convert the ship's tanks.GTT also received approval in principle from the classification society Bureau Veritas for icebreaker vessels using Mark III Flex and N096 L03+ technologies sailing in Arctic waters.In addition…

On the morning of October 12, 2016, E.N. Bisso and Signet Shipbuilding & Repair (SS&R) Pascagoula, Miss., christened and launched E.N. Bisso’s newest high technology Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) design tug. Mrs. Deborah F. McDonald, wife of Mr. William H. McDonald, President, E.N. Bisso, New Orleans, Louisiana, was the Christening Sponsor. The GLADYS B, SS&R Hull 109 was launched immediately following the ceremony, and will be delivered on-time and on-budget December 12, 2016. This ASD tug is the fourth RAL design vessel constructed by SS&R, with two new build contracts currently under negotiation.

The ASD tugs KST Passion and KST Pride were were delivered to their owner, Keppel-Smit Towage Pte. Ltd of Singapore in October 2014. The two vessels are the first in the new RAmparts 3300AV series of tug designs by Robert Allan Ltd., and were constructed at the AVIC Zhenjiang Shipyard Marine Pte Ltd., Singapore at its facilities in China. On trials, both vessels met or exceeded all performance expectations, with KST Pride producing an average ahead bollard pull of 71.5 tons and achieving a maximum speed of 14.03 knots.

SBI Offshore Limited has announced that the Middle East-Chinese consortium, which recently awarded its subsidiary a contract to provide design and engineering services for a jack-up drilling rig, has commenced discussions with the SGX Catalist-listed company to build up to five units of the rig. SBI Offshore said that it had commenced negotiations with the consortium about a week after securing from the latter the $24 million contract to design a rig that will meet American Bureau of Shipping Classification (A1 Self-Elevating Drilling Unit) requirements. The consortium, whose members are involved in oil and gas activities, has indicated that the rigs will eventually be deployed in the Middle East and various parts of Asia for operation in water depths of up to 110 meters.

SBI Offshore Limited, which is pursuing higher-value oil and gas engineering projects, said today it has secured a $24 million contract to provide design and engineering services for a jack-up drilling rig that can operate in water depths of up to 110 meters. SGX Catalist-listed SBI Offshore said its wholly owned subsidiary, SBI O&M Pte. Ltd., signed the contract with a Middle East-Chinese Consortium which comprises six parties that have varied interests in oil and gas activities. Under the contract, SBI O&M will provide design, engineering and supervision services for a jack-up drilling rig that will meet requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping Classification A1 for Self- Elevating Drilling Unit.

The U. S. Coast Guard continues to coordinate the response to the grounding of the 645-ft. cargo ship Clipper Lasco just west of the designated anchorage area off Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fla. The vessel remains aground this evening as members of the unified command work to ensure that planned salvage operations do not cause further disruption to the ocean floor, are conducted as safely as possible, provide adequate resources for any contingencies that could arise and mitigate the risk of damaging the ship. Divers from Resolve Marine Group, the salvor contracted by representatives for the Clipper Lasco, surveyed the ship's hull and the ocean bottom. The survey revealed that the vessel did impact the reef and some coral.