Turkish Shipyards Boost for MarineLine
Following Advanced Polymer Coatings’ announcement earlier in the year of its first two chemical tanker coatings contracts won in Turkey, the anticorrosion specialist has just announced a number of further new business gains and opportunities in this developing shipbuilding country. It has also reported gains in other markets. APC’s unique polymer-based tank protection system MarineLine has now been specified for the cargo tanks of 10 more ships to be constructed or converted in Turkey. These range in size from two 1,450 dwt chemical tankers for Holland’s Unifleet NV, to be constructed by the RMK Marine shipyard, to two 29,990 dwt chemical tankers from UM Shipyard for Fairfield Chemical Tankers of the USA.
BV Confirms Balu Class Status
Bureau Veritas says the 9,981 dwt chemical carrier Balu, which sank about 120 miles North of La Corunna off northern Spain in heavy weather today, was fully in class and had no requirements outstanding. The Balu was on passage from Denmark to southern Spain with a cargo of about 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid. The vessel was built in Frederikstad, Norway in 1977 to DNV class. The Balu was registered in Malta, owned by Dundee Shipping & Trading and managed by Monaco-based Traschimar. Bernard Anne, managing director of BV's marine division, says, "We have offered full co-operation to and are in close contact with the Maltese and French authorities. All the information we have on the history of the vessel is being made available." This vessel was transferred to BV class in 1980.
Litton Marine Wins IBS Orders
Litton Marine Systems, subsidiary of Litton Industries has been granted orders to provide Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS) for Norwegian owners. The orders include two new 55,000-dwt LPG carriers for Bergensen (Gdynia Shipyard, Poland) and a 37,500-dwt chemical carrier for Jo Tankers at the Kvaerner Kleven Florø yard. Bergensen, which has opted for a complete DNV Watch One bridge system for ocean and coastal operations, will include Litton-supplied X-band and S-band BridgeMaster E radars, Voyage Management System (VMS) and other components. Also DNV Watch One certified, the equipment that will be fitted on Jo Tankers' carriers includes Bridgemaster E radars, VMS with ECDIS, gyrocompass, autopilot and GMDSS communications suite.
