Algoma Central Orders New Great Lakes Ships
Algoma Central Corporation announced that it has acquired a 2009-built handy size self-unloading ocean class vessel, the Gypsum Integrity, from Gypsum Transportation Limited. The vessel is being renamed the Algoma Integrity. In addition, the company announced that that it has signed contracts with a subsidiary of Uljanik d.d. of Croatia, for the construction of two new Equinox Class 650 foot self-unloading dry bulk lake freighters. These contracts are contingent on the delivery by the shipyard of acceptable security for construction installments required under the contracts.
USG to Sell 2 GTL Ships for $42m
North American building products company United States Gypsum Corporation (USG) announced that it has entered into agreements to sell two gypsum carrying ships. The two ships, part of USG’s non-core shipping business, Gypsum Transportation Limited (GTL), will be sold for $42 million. The sales are expected to close in April 2015. The announcement was made as part of USG’s 2015 Q1 report.
Two-Stroke Milestones
Eastern seaboard operator Gypsum Transportation provided a beacon for the industry when it nominated a camshaft-less, electronically controlled Sulzer diesel engine for its 50,000-dwt-bulker newbuild project. Now, the interests behind a Mediterranean reefership scheme have also endorsed the concept, which represents a milestone in two-stroke technology, and signals a step change in large diesel engine operating flexibility. In one sense, MAN B&W stole a march on arch-rival Wärtsilä through the recent conversion at sea of a low-speed, MC-series propulsion engine to full electronic control. However, Wärtsilä's latest success in sealing contracts for two Sulzer engines configured from the outset for operation in electronic mode gives new commercial succour to the group's technological drive.
Wärtsilä Logs More Orders For Innovative Sulzer Engine
Wärtsilä Corporation has received the second order for Sulzer RT-flex diesel engines, which are powerplants that apply common-rail fuel injection with full electronic control to Sulzer RTA-series low-speed marine diesel engines. The units are reported to deliver benefits such as lower exhaust emissions, or lower fuel consumption at part load. Two seven-cylinder Sulzer RT-flex60C engines have been ordered to propel two 13,200 dwt containerized reefer ships contracted at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo in Portugal. Each 7RT-flex60C engine will have a maximum continuous output of 16,520 kW (22,470 bhp) at 114 rpm. The engines will be built at Wärtsilä's Trieste, Itlay facility. The ships have been contracted by the Agricultural Export Co.
First Sulzer Common-Rail Engine Passes Shop Test
The official shop test of the first modern large diesel engine with common-rail fuel injection, a Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B, has been successfully completed. This revolutionary engine has no camshaft and runs with electronic control of all key engine functions to give flexibility in operation and reduced exhaust emissions. The engine has a maximum continuous power of 12,750 kW and was built under licence from Wärtsilä Corporation by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd at their Ulsan works, Korea. It will be installed in a 47,000 tdw bulk carrier building for Gypsum Transportation Ltd at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea. As this is the first production engine built with the Sulzer RT-flex common-rail system…
Industry Pays Tribute to Innovation Awards Winners
Winners of the Lloyd’s List-SMM 2002 Awards for innovation in shipbuilding and marine technology were announced in the Hamburg Congress Centre last night (September 24) at a gala ceremony which brought day one of the world’s biggest maritime fair to a glittering conclusion. Several hundred leading industry figures gathered for the final stage of an initiative launched in March by Lloyd’s List and SMM organisers Hamburg Messe to recognise the technical advances which enable maritime commerce and defence. With 13 awards in three merchant and naval categories, the inaugural scheme attracted a massive wave of nominations for ships and support systems reflecting the cutting edge of ingenuity in improving performance, reducing costs and protecting the environment.
Sulzer RT-flex engine completes its first year
The first Sulzer low-speed engine with common-rail fuel injection has successfully completed one-year's service. This Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B engine, of 11,275 kW output, is installed in the 47,950 dwt bulk carrier "Gypsum Centennial". It was recently inspected at Tampa, Fla., during the ship's guarantee drydocking after 5295 hour's operation. During this first year of operation, the engine ran successfully. Although the engine has not been without its problems, they were all 'teething' problems and have all been overcome. There has not been any problems with the concept and the very few major faults were largely mechanical with easily-defined solutions.
Shipyard Fire Kills Four
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, one of South Korea's smaller shipbuilders, said police were investigating a fire that killed four workers on a ship being built in Ulsan, southeast of Seoul. "Police and fire officers are investigating the cause of the fire, but it is still unknown," said a company official who declined to be identified. The fire broke out at 5 p.m. local time on Monday and killed four workers putting finishing touches to a 40,000 deadweight ton ship in dry dock at its shipyard in Ulsan. The fire lasted just 10 minutes and caused limited damage to the vessel, but it released poisonous gases suspected of killing the workers, he said.
