Feature: Business Milestone for Vietnam
Vietnam's fledgling shipbuilding industry has raised its international profile by entering into a seminal agreement with the UK's Graig Group for the construction of a series of double-hulled bulk carriers. Cardiff-based Graig's bold move, potentially entailing 15 vessels of the Diamond 53 handymax type, draws on its experience in assigning a similarly extensive program, for 14 examples of the 53,000-dwt design, to Chinese yards. For the industrially-ambitious Vietnamese, who have already made substantial investments in modern shipbuilding equipment and practises, the Graig deal has particular appeal not only for its promise of serial production of one of the most well-considered, future-oriented bulker designs, but also for the broader package which the firm brings to the project.
Largest Aquastrada High Speed Ferry Under Construction at Rodriquez
Currently under construction at Rodriquez Cantieri Navali SpA's Pietra Ligure shipyard is a TMV 115 high-speed passenger and vehicle ferry for the Spanish ferry operator Balearia Eurolines Maritimes. The contract for this vessel was signed in January 2000 and delivery is expected in May 2001. Though very similar in size and capacity to the previous TMV 114 delivered to Spanish operator Armas Ocean Jet in April of this year, there are notable differences. The reasons for these differences between the two vessels are due to owner preferences, including the choice of hull material. The additional truck lane meters of the TMV 115 have been obtained by using hoistable central and outboard car decks to allow for these taller vehicles.
Rodriquez Cantieri Navali Delivers Catamaran
On July 7, Rodriquez Cantieri Navali do Brasil delivered the first and, after a week, launched the second of seven 52 m Double Ended CityCats under construction in Niteroi near Rio De Janeiro. The Gavea I is the fourth vessel to be completed by Rodriquez’s Brazilian shipyard after the three 28-m catamarans delivered in 2005. Entirely built of aluminum, the vessel has a length of 52 m and a beam of 14.2 m It is able to transport 1,300 passengers, 900 of whom seated, for a total payload of 125 tons, with a light displacement of 290 tons. The Citycat 52 DE is a double-ended vessel with a double bridge in order to optimize the time spent at the quayside and two MTU 16V 2000 M70 engines rated at 1050 kW each…
40m Cat Launches Vessel for Bahamas Ferries
Rodriguez Cantieri Navali presented a new vessel dubbed V.Cat40 from its shipyard of Pietra Ligure the 40m for the Shipping Company Bahamas Ferries. Completely in aluminium, this fast catamaran - part of the City Cat series – has a crew of six people and can hold up to 320 passengers on its two decks – 222 on the main deck and 98 on the upper deck. The propulsive system consists of two engines MTU 16 V 396 TE 74L each one producing 2000 kW at 2000 rpm combined with two Rolls Royce water-jets – model Kemewa 63 SII. The cruise speed for this ship is of 29,5 knots while the maximum speed is of 32 knots. The ship stabilization is guaranteed by its intruders and by two anti-roll and anti-pitching T-Foils.
