Salvage Bureau News

Dynamic Positioning has been around for a while, it is evolving and it is here to stay. Here to sort it all out are two of industry’s more familiar stakeholders who also explain what might come next.When it comes to critical offshore operations and vessel handling, this is not your grandfather’s marine industry, and it hasn’t been for some time. That’s because the bridge layout and equipment commonly found on any recently delivered offshore service vessel would be unfamiliar to the typical deck officer of just 20 years ago. Much of that can be attributed to the advent of dynamic positioning equipment systems.DP – perhaps like no other skill at sea – has changed the role of the deck officer. The technical requirements to qualify and operate this equipment are vast.

An 8,000 kW rescue tug, the first vessel installed with ABB’s Azipod D electric propulsion system, has been delivered by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard to customer Guangzhou Salvage Bureau, a division of the Chinese Ministry of Transport. Before delivery, the rescue tug was tested in sea trials where it exceeded design targets in bollard pull, fuel economy, maneuverability and low-load performance, ABB said. The vessel’s captain, Shaohua Liu, said, “We are really impressed with the vessel’s performance. Response time and maneuverability, both of which are critical in our operations, are excellent.

Shanghai Salvage Bureau’s (SSB) new ship is purpose-designed for a range of roles including deep-water salvage operations, deep-water pipelay and construction as well as a saturation diving capability for up to 24 divers in two bells. Recently, GE’s Marine Solutions has been chosen by SSB, one of the largest rescue and salvage companies in the world, to provide a suite of marine technologies including power and propulsion equipment, dynamic positioning (DP) and automation and control systems to its newest deep-water dive support vessel (DSV).

Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Shanghai Bestway Marine Engineering Design Co Ltd to design a new type of deepwater dive support vessel (DSV). The ship is to be built for China state-owned Shanghai Salvage Bureau (SSB), a professional salvage company in China. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in January. The Wärtsilä design features a combination of capabilities, including deepwater (6,000 meters) salvage operations, deepwater pipe laying and construction work, and saturation (SAT) diving operations for 24 divers using two diving bells. SAT diving is a technique that allows divers to reduce the risk of decompression sickness when working at great depths for extended periods of time. All the design features are based on a single platform operating with DP3.

C-MAR, an international marine and offshore services provider, and the Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) has officially launched the Dynamic Positioning training facility (DPC-SMU) at a special ceremony in Shanghai. In the first joint venture of its kind, C-MAR will provide dynamic positioning (DP) training to Chinese nationals and vessel operators in the offshore oil and gas sector, bringing the company’s extensive experience and expertise to the world’s fastest growing maritime sector.

Engine manufacturer Wärtsilä has launched a new 2-speed marine gearbox, which it says offers notable economic and environmental benefits. The product will serve vessels having multiple operational modes or reduced transit speed, including among others: ropax ferries, offshore support vessels, tug boats, and fishing vessels. Compared to a single mechanical propulsion system, a fuel consumption reduction of eight per cent was verified with Wärtsilä's 2-speed gearbox during sea trials.

Scana Industrier ASA has through its subsidiary Scana Propulsion recently signed new contracts: one for delivery of a propulsion systems to Kleven verft, and two more for tunnel thrusters to Nordic Yards and Guangzhou Salvage Bureau. The contracts have a total value of approx. 22 million NOK. This is for delivery of gear and propellers to a new construction vessel for Østensjø Rederi. The vessel is designed by Salt Ship Design and is to be delivered in March 2016. Scana Propulsion will provide gear and propellers within first quarter 2015. The contracts for delivery of tunnel thrusters have been signed with customers in Germany and China.

The coastal fast rescue vessel 'Dong Hai Jiu 202' has been delivered by Alfai Southern Shipyard to the Donghai Rescue Bureau. Afai’s General Manager Mr. Wu Mingyi and the Deputy Director General of Donghai Rescue Bureau Mr. Xiao Yuehua signed the delivery documents. The 'Dong Hai Jiu 202'  is the fifth coastal fast rescue vessel built by Afai for the China rescue and salvage service and will be introduced to service in the Donghai area. A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended…

Wärtsilä has been contracted by the People’s Republic of China’s Communications Import & Export Corporation to supply the main propulsion system for four new ocean rescue vessels. The ships are being built at the CSSC Guangzhou Huang-Pu Shipbuilding Company Ltd shipyard in China, and are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2014. The order was signed in the second quarter of 2013 and is part of a series of contracts covering a total of 22 vessels. The comprehensive package of Wärtsilä propulsion solutions comprises 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 main engines…

Coastal Fast Rescue Vessel “BEI HAI JIU 203” has been delivered by China's Afai Southern Shipyard. The new vessel is for operation by Beihai Rescue Bureau, and its details were not disclosed. Mr. Yang Xiaoren, the Deputy Director General of China Rescue & Salvage Bureau of Ministry of Transport and Mr. Sun Dongsheng, the Vice Chairman of Afai gave speeches separately, Mr. Likai, the Vice Director General of Beihai Rescue Bureau and Mr. Wu Mingyi, the Director of the board and General Manager of Afai on behalf of both sides signed the delivery documents. Mr.

Afai Southern Shipyard awarded contracts to build 4 coastal fast rescue vessels for a Chinese Government agency. The contracts were signed between Afai and the Salvage Bureau of Ministry of Transport in the South China port city of Guangzhou. Afai has successfully delivered three of this type of coastal fast rescue vessels in the past, and at present three others are presently under construction in the yard. These fast rescue boats are full aluminum wave-piercing catamarans, with an overall length of 49.9m, a beam of 13.1m, and a depth of 4.5m, propelled by twin engines and twin water jets.

China’s largest submersible-support vessel delivered to Shanghai Salvage by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry shipyard. China’s largest submersible-support vessel has been delivered and put into service in Qingdao, Shandong province, marking a breakthrough in the development of the country’s deep-water salvage force. Shenqianhao, China's first ship that carries a saturation diving system allowing divers to work at depths of up to 300 meters, is the nation’s most advanced submersible-support vessel…

The keel laying ceremonies for two coastal fast rescue vessels contracted and built by Afai Southern, BEIHAIJIU 203(ASA033) and DONGHAIJIU 202(ASA034) were held respectively at the outfitting workshop and slipway workshop. Representatives from Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration, CCS Guangzhou Branch, Design Company and leaders of Afai Southern witnessed the ceremony. These two coastal fast rescue vessels are to serve as public welfare vessels for Beihai Rescue & Salvage Bureau and Donghai Rescue & Salvage Bureau, both are of 'north' vessel types, and mainly used for life-saving duties on the coast of China. These vessels are full aluminum alloy wave-piercing catamarans, with twin main engines and twin waterjets.

On February 1, COSCO Shipping Co., Ltd. signed a POOL agreement with Guangzhou Salvage Bureau of the Ministry of Transport (GSBMT) in Guangzhou Ocean Plaza. According to the agreement, M.V. Hua Hai Long, the 30,000 DWT semi-submersible vessel of GSBMT, will come into service under the management of COSCO Shipping Co. COSCO Shipping aims to become the lead integrator in the global semi-submersible vessel market therefore they have initiated the first POOL model among the Chinese shipping companies.

ABB, a power and automation technology group, has won orders worth $15m from Shanghai Salvage Company and Guangzhou Salvage Bureau for the supply of electric power and propulsion systems for a new diving support vessel and semi-submersible heavy lift vessel. The newly contracted semi-submersible heavy lift vessel is the sixth of its type to be awarded to ABB over the last two years. ABB – in cooperation with local partner Kongsberg – will also deliver the vessel’s automation system. China Merchants Heavy Industry Group is the main contractor for construction of the vessel, which is targetted for delivery in 2011. Shanghai Salvage’s diving support vessel newbuild looks to fill in the gap for deepwater (300 metres deep and greater) diving salvage capability in China…

Wärtsilä supplied the first of its new Wärtsilä Auxpac 20 generating sets in April. The customer is Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd in China and the generating sets will be installed in a heavy-lifting ship being built at the Jing Jiang Eastern shipyard for Guangzhou Salvage Bureau. Wärtsilä will also supply the vessel's three main engines and steerable thrusters, ordered in 2004. The vessel will be completed in April 2006. Introduced in September 2004, Wärtsilä Auxpac is a standard, pre-commissioned generating set designed to provide auxiliary electricity onboard marine vessels. The sales of the new product have made a strong start and Wärtsilä has already received orders for more than 200 Wärtsilä Auxpac 20 generating sets.

Operational by 2010, the new system will mean rescue vessels will be able to reach any spot within 50 nautical miles of the coast in two and a half hours, cutting reaction time by an hour from present. Helicopters will be able to search for and rescue targets at night, expanding the offshore search radius from 110 to 260 nautical miles. Also, rescuers will be able to salvage ships weighing 50,000 tons. The bureau revealed the measures, to be taken in its 11th Five Year plan (2006-10), at a press conference yesterday in Beijing to mark the 55th anniversary of its establishment. According to the plan, new rescue vessels will be purchased to build a fleet of 56 rescue tugboats with different sizes and functions.

The China Rescue and Salvage Bureau announced plans to update its offshore rescue system. Operational by 2010, the new system will mean rescue vessels will be able to reach any spot within 50 nautical miles (92.6 kilometres) of the coast in two and a half hours, cutting reaction time by an hour from present. Helicopters will be able to search for and rescue targets at night, expanding the offshore search radius from 110 to 260 nautical miles (204 to 482 kilometres). The bureau revealed the measures, to be taken in its 11th Five Year plan (2006-10), at a press conference in Beijing to mark the 55th anniversary of its establishment. According to the plan, new rescue vessels will be purchased to build a fleet of 56 rescue tugboats with different sizes and functions.

67 ships and 2,377 people are searching for the 31 Chinese sailors who went missing after a Panamanian freighter ran aground in the sea area off East China's Fujian Province last week. The rescue operation has been extended to a wider area of sea, including areas near local islands and polders. The accident occurred when the ship, Heng Da 1, hit a reef. All 37 Chinese crew members fell overboard. So far only two of the crew members have been saved and the bodies of four victims recovered. The 31 others are still missing. The East China Sea Salvage Bureau under the Ministry of Communications dispatched a 14-member rescue team, including 10 divers and engineers, to join the rescue efforts. Strong wind and high waves have hampered the rescue operation. (Source: www.hindu.com)