USS Makin Island: Proven Fuel Efficient
USS Makin Island (LHD 8) is the last in a series of 8 amphibious assault ships of the WASP-class built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at its Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. Though last, it is the first in the series fitted with hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion, and recently returned to its San Diego homeport after its first deployment. “During the seven-month deployment, the ship’s hybrid-electric propulsion system saved more than four million gallons of fuel resulting in an estimated cost savings in excess of $15 million,” the Navy claims.
Keeping Machinery Spaces Safe
Fire in the engineroom is one of the largest causes of ship casualties around the world, a fact highlighted in a recent Salvage Association annual review. Finland's Marioff Oy — a well-regarded supplier of fire suppression systems — now offers a dedicated HI-FOG water mist fire protection system for ship's enginerooms. The supplier of water mist fire protection systems for ships is gearing up for unprecedented demand for its tailor made HI-FOG local application system following the May 1999 meeting of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee. Following this meeting, IMO requires, in addition to the main ship system, that the engine rooms of most ships be fitted with a water based local application fire fighting system. "Marioff's solutions will prove most attractive for shipowners," believes Dr.