Tech File: Repower After Layup at the Thai Marine Department
A well-built, modern vessel can be expected to outlive her original engines. The challenge for those representing the owners, is to choose new engines that match or exceed the capabilities of the original power. Consideration will be given to replicas of the original engines. However, availability and suitability may limit this.These were some of the considerations confronting the Thai Marine Department when they decided to put their 41.85 by 3.9-meter oil response vessel back into service.
Chao Phraya: A Floating Food World
For many years, the Supatra River House on the Chao Phrya River, has been a favorite with Thai and foreign dinners. Situated on the Thonburi side of the river, the most favored approach to the restaurant is by boat. To that end, the owner, Khun Supapan maintains a fleet of beautifully restored Chao Phraya River water taxis. These can pickup dinners from their riverside hotels or any one of the Express Boat docks, including Tha Maharaj pier on the Bangkok side across from the Supatra River House.
S.P. Inter Marine Expands Cargo Handling
Long established in the trucking, warehousing, cargo transfer and barging industry of Thailand, S.P. Inter Marine can be described as a broadly horizontally integrated firm. With a well constructed presence at Ayutthaya, about 80 kmup the Chao Phrya River from the Gulf of Thailand; it continues to expand its warehousing capacities for Thai agricultural cargos like tapioca. Its barge loading facility can handle a wide range of products from domestic aggregate to export agriculture products.
Cummins Gen Sets for ASIMAR Container Ship
One of the largest ships to be delivered from a Thai shipyard in 2008 is the 101 by 18.8-meter container ship under construction at the Asian Marine Services Public Company Ltd. yard in Prasamutjedee, Samutprakarn. Located near the mouth of the Chao Phrya River this busy yard will deliver this 7,000 DWT and 442 TEU container ship to her Indian owners this August. The main engine is a 4000 kW Wartsila driving a LIPS controllable pitch propeller. Main generator sets are two 350 kW generators each powered by a Cummins KTA19 D(M) engine. The emergency generator is a Cummins 6CTA8.3 DM-powered 150 kW set.
Lightering Company Adds Power
The booming Thai economy and the shallow waters of the Chao Phrya River combine to create a growing demand for lightering operations of bulk cargos in the Gulf of Thailand.. This demand is being met by the S. P. Inter Marine Co. Ltd of Bangpli, Samutprakarn near Bangkok. Originally a trucking and land based company, the firm moved into the marine logistics field in 1995 and now operates a fleet of 80 barges, 20 ocean going tugs, numerous little river tugs, and 8 huge floating off-loading stations. In January 2005 the company added their newest tug to the fleet.
Something New, Something Traditional
(The tug Kesarin 10 at sea trials on the Chao Phrya River near the ancient Thai capital of Ayuthya. C.S. Inter Marine’s shipyard manager Khun Patum Sardsiri is a practical man. He works with management to balance costs and benefits through out the company’s sizable fleet of tugs, barges and bulk cargo handling stations. In some cases this can result in relatively large expenditures, such as one made recently to swap engines on a one year old boat. The handy little steel tug had been launched with a 500 HP second hand engine that quickly began accumulating costs in down time and repairs.
