Paxman News

Liverpool diesel-engine sales and maintenance specialists James Troop & Co is celebrating its landmark 150th anniversary with a surge in new business and export sales. The family-run company based in Runcorn is one of Liverpool’s longest-standing maritime and industrial businesses. It is reporting a 27pc sales hike on last year’s figures between January to June. Growth has steadily been recorded across the board with a notable increase in servicing work, spare parts sales and a massive surge in engine sales.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, recently lifted the 350 ton, Patrol Ship, PC1and placed her onto the bank for modifications. The PC1 is the first of fourteen Patrol Ships originally built at Bollinger Shipyards in l982 for the US Navy. The vessel has returned to her builder for modifications to her stern and for a life extension program. The new owner, the Philippine Navy will utilize the vessel to fight the war on terrorism. The 179 ft x 26 ft vessel is powered by four Paxman Diesel engines delivering l3,400 hp. The revitalized vessel is scheduled to be delivered the to Philippine Navy in January 2004.

As increasing attention is paid to ensuring the nation is secure from attacks - whether direct or covert - via the waterways, companies that supply vessels and equipment to the Coast Guard and Navy are quickly planning for an expected upturn in business. Last month Admiral Robert Natter, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Vice Adm. Thad Allen, Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, announced the assignment of four Cyclone-Class Navy Patrol Coastal (PC) ships in support of the nation's homeland security Operation Noble Eagle. Two additional PCs will be assigned to the Pacific Coast. For the first time, U.S. Navy ships will be employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help protect the nation's coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack.

The new 440-ft. (134-m) monohull high-speed ferry Corsaire 13000 will soon undergo speed trials at the French shipyard Alstom Leroux Naval, and the successful testing and subsequent operation of the advanced vessel will prove the value of the complete propulsion system supplied by MTU. The ship is planned to operate for the French SNCM (Societe Nationale Maritime Corse-Mediterranee) on the 189-n m. crossing from Marseille and the island Corsica at 42 knots. The ship's propulsion and power generation system — virtually all of which was supplied by MTU — is truly one of the vessel's distinguishing features. The engines, gas turbines, gearboxes…

Effective June 9, MAN B&W Diesel has acquired the Alstom Engines business, and effective immediately the Alstom Diesel engine business was renamed MAN B&W Diesel Ltd. with its headquarters in Stockport, Cheshire. Dr. Hans-J. Schulte, President of MAN B&W Diesel, stated: "We welcome the new British members of the MAN B&W Diesel team to the MAN family. The U.K. company manufactures diesel engines under the Mirrlees Blackstone, Ruston and Paxman brand names. The existing engine programs - which will continue to be strongly marketed according to the company - are complementary to the extensive range of engines in the power bracket between 500 and 68,640 kW being designed and produced by the MAN B&W Diesel Group at its other locations in Europe.

Halter Marine has answered the call from the Venezuelan Navy for a variety of patrol boats. The company recently delivered four 80 ft. (24.3 m) boats to the country's government, which completes the contract for the design and construction of 12 total vessels in this size range. Designed for high speed operations in coastal and riverine environments, the vessels will be used for a variety of patrolling efforts in Venezuelan territorial waters, specifically to counter illegal drug traffic, provide search and rescue assistance, and disaster relief. Powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel marine engines, the vessels will have a range of 1,000 nm and a maximum speed of 25 knots. Halter also supplied the last two 54 ft. patrol boats for the Venezuelan National Guard.

Alstom Diesel engines and its three well-regarded brands — Mirrlees Blackstone, Paxman and Ruston — were recently bought by MAN B&W. Several recent deals have confirmed the continuing trend towards a consolidation of resources in the realm of marine propulsion equipment. The trend, to regular followers of the industry, is hardly a new development. However, a spate of recent new deals and consummations has brought the topic to the forefront again. As reported in the June 2000 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, the emergence of Rolls Royce as a major force in the field of marine propusion is solidified with a collection of brand name equipment suppliers. The U.K.

Halter Marine has answered the call from the Venezuelan Navy for a variety of patrol boats. The company recently delivered four 80 ft. (24.3 m) boats to the country's government, which completes the contract for the design and construction of 12 total vessels in this size range. Designed for high speed operations in coastal and riverine environments, the vessels will be used for a variety of patrolling efforts in Venezuelan territorial waters, specifically to counter illegal drug traffic, provide search and rescue assistance, and disaster relief. Powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel marine engines, the vessels will have a range of 1,000 nm and a maximum speed of 25 knots. Halter also supplied the last two 54 ft. (16.4 m) patrol boats for the Venezuelan National Guard.

Derecktor Shipyards delivered its 299 ft. (91 m) high speed catamaran, Flying Cloud, to Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority. Completed one week ahead of schedule, the vessel will be used for year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Attaining an excess of 39 knots during sea trials, Flying Cloud demonstrated high stability and ride comfort due to its dynamic ride control system. Its service speed of 36 knots will allow the ferry to cross from Hyannis Port to Nantucket Island in less than one hour - significantly lower than the conventional two hour crossing time. Flying Cloud is powered by Paxman 12VP185 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71SII waterjets.

Every year, MarineNews chooses a handful of vessels delivered in the past 12 months and bestows upon them the distinction of “Great Boats.” The boats are chosen for innovations in design, construction and utilization. Following are the 17 vessels or groups of vessels chosen as the Great Boats of 2000. Crowley Marine Services delivered Alert, Attentive, and Aware, a series of three 140-ft., 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska. Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, the boats will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed in February; Attentive was delivered in June, and Aware was delivered in July.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) has been studying the use of the trimaran hullform for its Future Surface Combatant. As part of its research and risk reduction process an ocean going demonstrator Research Vessel (RV) Triton was procured by QinetiQ, the former U.K. Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. From October 2000 to March 2002 it was used in these risk reduction trials and is now available for hire as a general trials ship. Over the past seven years the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) has explored in some detail the potential benefits of a trimaran. Hydrodynamic and structures studies by QinetiQ together with design investigations by the U.K.

The newest Rodriquez fast ferry, The Princess, has been delivered Arab Bridge Maritime Company of Jordan in less than 12 months. Following the primary assembly and initial outfitting at the company’s Pietra Ligure shipyard, the ship was then launched and moved for final outfitting and commissioning to another Rodriquez yard, Intermarine, in La Spezia. The TMV 84, yard number 323, follows closely on the heels of another TMV 84, the “Ramon Llull” that was delivered only two months prior to Balearia. Main engines are the MTU 595 series instead of MAN B&W’s Paxman. All four waterjets are now steerable. The passenger capacity has grown from around 450 to 710. “The Princess” can carry 654 passengers in economy class, 48 in first class and there is a luxury VIP saloon for an additional 8 people.

Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. has launched USS Tornado, the U.S. Navy's newest Patrol Coastal Ship. The 14th of the Cyclone Class constructed by Bollinger, under a sole-source contract with the Navy, the vessel is the first to include design modifications, equipment and armament upgrades as part of the Navy's Pre-Planned Product Improvement Program. Boasting a new, fully integrated bridge command and control system to increase the vessel's capabilities, Tornado is equipped with a satellite navigation system, forward looking infrared and surface radar with collision avoidance capabilities. The vessel is based on the Vosper Thornycroft Ramadan class design and modified to meet Navy requirements.

Engineering companies Alstom of France and MAN of Germany have agreed terms for the acquisition by MAN of ALSTOM's Diesel engines business. Through this acquisition, the MAN Group will strengthen its activities in the field of large Diesel engines. MAN B&W Diesel AG, Augsburg, will take over ALSTOM Engines Ltd. of the U.K. with its brands Ruston, Paxman and Mirrlees Blackstone. ALSTOM Engines Ltd. supplies on a worldwide scale medium and high speed Diesel and gas-fueled engines with outputs ranging from 500 kW to 15,000 kW, which are primarily incorporated into fast ferries, navy and coast guard ships, luxury yachts, locomotives, power stations and packaged generator sets. Alstom Engines Ltd.

Derecktor Shipyards is putting the finishing touches on a 134.5 ft. high-speed catamaran for the Woods Hole Steamship Authority at the yard's facility in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Delivery is slated for May of 2000. The other bidders for the contract included Dakota Creek Shipyards, Halter Marine and Pequot River Works. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority, the oldest of its kind in the U.S., provides the only year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Service is provided from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, and Hyannis to Nantucket. Seasonal service is also provided from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.

Engineering companies Alstom of France and MAN of Germany have agreed terms for the acquisition by MAN of ALSTOM's Diesel engines business. Through this acquisition, the MAN Group will strengthen its activities in the field of large diesel engines. MAN B&W Diesel AG, Augsburg, will take over ALSTOM Engines Ltd. of the U.K. with its brands Ruston, Paxman and Mirrlees Blackstone. ALSTOM Engines Ltd. supplies on a worldwide scale medium and high speed Diesel and gas-fuelled engines with outputs ranging from 500 kW to 15,000 kW, which are primarily incorporated into fast ferries, navy and coast guard ships, luxury yachts, locomotives, power stations and packaged generator sets. Alstom Engines Ltd.