Thyssen Nordseewerke News

Compared to new technologies, conventional engineering in shipping is a relatively simple science: computable and generally predictable. However, heavy lift shipping presents challenges that go far beyond what is required with standard unitized cargoes. The transportation of project cargoes - often highly valuable components of multi-billion-dollar projects - requires expert planning to ensure they are loaded and transported safely and efficiently. Last year AAL shipped two giant cyclone vessels (22m x 11m x 10m and weighing over 500mt each) to Petronas’ $27 billion RAPID project in Malaysia.

Proceeding 19 months of construction time, the suction dredger Vasco de Gama - with a hold of 33,000 cu. m. — was launched at the Thyssen Nordseewerke construction yard on November 5, 1999. Owned by the Jan de Nul Group, the dredger, which is the largest in the world, will be utilized for international land reclamation projects. Krupp Fordertechnik GmbH supplied the dredging systems and components. Before being passed over to its owner during 2000, the dredger is scheduled to carry out high-performance dredging operations.

Despite a marked drop in shipbuilding volume during the past decade to lower cost competitors in the East, Germany's marine market has maintained it adherence to the highest technical standard while carving its niche in the world of constructing complex, high-value vessels. In many ways, the saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same" could be aptly applied to the current status of the German marine market. While the world, and certainly the business of constructing commercial ships for the world fleet, has changed dramatically in the past decade, Germany's role in this market has stayed remarkably on course. Facing steady market erosion to competitors in Japan…

Despite what could be best termed as difficult operating conditions, the German maritime market has persevered through its collective adherence to the principles which propelled it to the lead of the maritime construction and outfitting markets: a steadfast adherence to producing technologically correct and advanced vessels, products and systems. The challenges facing the German maritime market are not unlike those facing many of its European colleagues and competitors, or those facing industrial operations in any of the world's leading economies. The proliferation of lower-cost shipbuilding, ship repair and marine equipment supply options outside of Europe, particularly in Asia, has led to a significant drain on business emanating from and dollars flowing to the German homeland.

The Marine Engineering Subdivision of Siemens Industrial Projects and Technical Services Group (ATD) is fitting out two submarines for the Italian Navy with propulsion and control systems worth $60 million. About half of the order will go to Siemens Power Generation Group (KWU), which will be supplying the fuel cells for the propulsion system. Currently under construction at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard to drawings supplied by German shipyards Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG and Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH. Siemens brings experience in the fitting out of more than 120 submarines to this project, with the Italian Navy also granting the company an option for the fitting out of two more submarines.