Steel Frame News

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries is joining the offshore wind industry through the development of an independent offshore wind floater model able to operate in extreme marine environments.The company said Monday it had received Approval in Principle (AiP) for its 9.5-MW large-scale offshore wind floater model, Tri-Star Float from the Norwegian classification society DNV."Removing a pontoon, a steel-frame structure supporting wind generator on the sea, its compact design will help dramatically shortening construction period from design and transportation to installation…

A Sydney base pump manufacturer and defense contractor has won a contract, to supply 3” engine drive salvage pumps for the Republic Of Korea Navy. The pumps are unique and have application not only in Korea, but in warships and support vessels throughout the world."The original requirement was for a lightweight portable diesel drive salvage pump, capable of handling saltwater,” said Chief Engineer, John Hales. "We'd already developed high pressure firefighting pumps for seawater applications in the form of both the Seamaster and Sea Skipper diesel drive machines’…

Aiming to support shipbuilding modernizations that will increase productivity and allow U.S. shipyards to compete more effectively in global markets, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded $9.8 million to 18 U.S. yards through its Small Shipyard Grant Program. “Small shipyards play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector, which contributes to our economy, security, and infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

MR spent time with Graham Couser, VP of Sales and Marketing, Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. (GBSL), for updates and insights on how this yard is faring in the current market and investing for the future. As the largest ship repair yard in the Caribbean, Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited, Couser said the yard is committed to continual investment based on customer’s needs, in markets good and bad. “The cruise market remains buoyant and upbeat with growth planned into the next few years,” said Couser.

Today, Kvaerner and its sub-contractors cut the first steel plates for the utility- and living quarters (ULQ) topside for the Johan Sverdrup field. The topside construction starts on schedule and budget. The Johan Sverdrup development is being executed with a high degree of Norwegian value creation. Kvaerner's efforts to improve competitiveness have resulted in a large portion of the work for the ULQ platform to be executed in Norway. This gives Kvaerner and Norwegian subcontractors a steady activity and also a continued high number of apprentices. In June 2015, Kvaerner in a joint venture with KBR won the contract for the complete delivery of the utility and living quarter (ULQ) topside.

Shipping containers are defined as containers that facilitate the transport and carriage of goods without the need to unload and/or reload the cargo at intermediate points. These containers are large rectangular boxes made of a special corrosion resistant grade of steel and are characterized by high strength and durability. Containers are generally made up of aluminum and steel. The size and type built of each container comply with specifications and regulations formulated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Shipping containers are classified into three main categories, namely dry containers, reefer containers, and tank containers.

Strainstall, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, announced the completion of the world’s first Intelligent Fender System (IFS) trial with energy companies SSE and RWE at Suffolk-based wind farm, Greater Gabbard. The IFS is an in-house developed technology which aims to provide accurate and recordable data to improve safety and increase operational efficiency for vessel and offshore wind farm operators during transfer operations. The Greater Gabbard trial enabled Strainstall to…

The new cruise terminal at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, which will be capable of handling 2,500 passengers and three ships simultaneously, is set to become operational by the end of the year, according to a report in the National. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) said that work was progressing in full swing and his company was aiming for an end-of-2015 finish to coincide with home porting plans of Royal Caribbean to base one of its Celebrity Cruise vessels at Zayed Port for the 2016-17 season. The ports developer is in talks with cruise lines to use Zayed Port as their home base for the next cruise season. The next cruise season will also involve a stopover at Sir Bani Yas Island.

Intelligent Engineering (IE) has supplied TNKC (UK) Ltd with SPS Citadel Access Protection doors for all nine of the bulk carriers in their fleet, with the last set being delivered in late February 2015. The bulk carriers which operate in high risk areas are now fitted with this innovative system which delivers protection against maritime piracy. Dimitar Dimitrov, Technical Superintendent, TNKC (UK) Ltd commented, “With minimal financial commitment, we have been able to achieve a safe haven for our crews - our most valuable asset. The system has been simple to install.

The Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding today marked the installation of the final piece of steel frame for the Assembly and Ultra Hall Production facility that will produce the Navy’s newest combat fleet starting in September 2015. The Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Honorable Peter MacKay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada and Minister Responsible for Nova Scotia joined Irving Shipbuilding’s executive…

Reflex Marine has been granted approval by the Mexican Merchant Marines to sell its crane transfer device, the FROG-6, in Mexico. The certification is a result of Reflex Marine working with the Mexican government’s testing agency, the Centro de Normalizacion y Certificacion de Productos (CNCP) for over a year, as well as the national oil operator PEMEX with the help of its local partner GINEMEX. The FROG-6 was also exhibited at the Petroleum Exhibition and Conference of Mexico (PECOM) where it received a huge amount of attention from operators, crew and the media.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced plans to move the MOL Technology Research Center from its current site in Nishikojiya, Ota Ward, Tokyo, to Aso Ward in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site in Kawasaki on May 20. MOL executives on hand for the event included Senior Managing Executive Officer Yoichi Aoki, Executive Officer Kenji Yokota, and others involved in the project. All the attendees prayed for a safe conclusion to the construction work. The MOL Technology Research Center analyzes vessel fuel oils and lubricants, developing a fuel oil pretreatment device, research and development on CO2 reduction, and other R&D efforts to improve storage and transport technologies such as advanced reefer containers.

Designed and built by Southern Oregon Marine (SOMAR) Shipyard, in Coos Bay, Ore., new Azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug Tira Lani was recently delivered to Sause Bros. The tug will join ASD Kamaehu and Pono for duty, assisting ships arriving and departing Honolulu Harbor and their own barge movements in the harbor. Tira Lani is the first tugboat constructed from the keel up by SOMAR. The vessel is powered by twin Caterpillar Model 3516B electronic controlled propulsion engines rated at 2,100 hp @ 1,600 rpm, driving through Ulstein Model 1650 Azimuth stern drives with 86 in. diameter propellers in nozzles. The propulsion system gives a service speed of 13 knots, a bollard pull astern of more than 100,000 lbs., and a bollard pull ahead of 120,000 lbs.

ClearSpan, division of FarmTek, has launched ClearSpan Fabric Structures International, Inc. to provide customized building solutions for large scale, engineered, steel-frame and tension fabric buildings, up to 200 feet wide. Tension fabric structures are increasingly becoming the building choice of many industries, especially the agricultural, equine, storage, aeronautical, commercial, sports, public works and marine - including refit and paint enclosures, boat manufacturing, port buildings, wet slips, and more. The building’s popularity stems from its unique features: natural light, clear-span space, fast construction and reduced utility costs. ClearSpan and its affiliated companies manufacture and ship direct to their customers over 10,000 fabric structures and greenhouses each year.