News: World's Largest Dry Transport Vessel Delivered

Heavy transport shipping company Dockwise Shipping B.V. took delivery of the M/V Blue Marlin after her conversion into the world's largest semi-submersible heavy transport vessel able to carry heavy cargoes up to 73,000 tons. After a conversion of three months at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Blue Marlin has re-joined the Dockwise fleet with an increased deadweight capacity of 76,061 tons. The beam has been increased by 21 m, which results in an increased unobstructed deck area of 11,227 sq. m (63 m wide x 178.2 m long). The propulsion system of the vessel has been upgraded and extended with two Azimuth retractable propulsors, each 4.5 MW, to provide optimum manoeuvrability and seagoing characteristics while carrying ultra large cargoes. With this conversion Dockwise responds to the continuing scale development in especially floating production units for the offshore oil and gas industry. The jumboized Blue Marlin will create the next phase in the transportation of fully integrated, heavier and ultra large floating production and drilling platforms up to 73,000 tons.

VT Halter Wins Contract

VT Halter Marine Inc. signed a $5.2 m contract with Tide Leasing Company, L.L.C. to build a 200 x 75 x 14.5-ft. stevedoring crane barge. It will be classed by LR, and Hydralift AmClyde Inc., (AmClyde) will supply the crane for the project. The scope of work includes installation of the deck winches and crane pedestal and will take about 12 months to complete. In the four months that follow, VT Halter Marine will assist AmClyde with the installation and operational testing of the crane. Delivery of the 16-month project is scheduled to take place during the second quarter of 2005.

Senesco Marine Wins Barge Contract

Senesco Marine signed a contract to build a 100,000-barrel double-hulled liquid fuel barge for Reinauer Transportation. Over the past year, Senesco Marine has delivered two 80,000-barrel double-hulled barges and is currently working on two more for delivery this year. Both 80,000-barrel barges reportedly are well ahead of schedule. CEO Gary Schuler is predicting that the new 100,000-barrel barge will also be completed ahead of the scheduled January 2005 delivery date. “We’re very pleased to be working with Senesco Marine on the construction of our new barge,” said Chris Reinauer, Reinauer Transportation. “The company’s on time delivery process was a major factor in our decision to go with Senesco Marine.”

Izar Sestao Delivers LNG Carrier Bilbao Knutsen

Izar Sestao delivered Bilbao Knutsen to Knutsen OAS, which will operate it for Repsol YPF. The ship has an LNG capacity of 138,000 cu. m. and it is the second ship with these characteristics built by the yard, following the FOC Inigo Tapias.

The burgeoning gas carrier segment is a key market for Izar, which has ample technical and industrial capacity in Sestao and Puerto Real. There are two more LNGs under construction at Izar's Puerto Real shipyard. Bilbao Knutsen was launched in September 2002. The ship underwent sea trials in November and the gas trials in December, which consisted on the cooling, loading and unloading of the tanks. For this purpose 5,000 cu. m. of LNG from Bahia de Bizcaia were used.

Gladding-Hearn Gets Pilot Boat Orders

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding is building new pilot boats for the Portland, Maine and Delaware pilots. The shipyard's new Chesapeake class of pilot boats has also been built for the Virginia, Maryland, and Tampa Bay pilots. The Portland pilots will take delivery of their new launch in September, while the Delaware pilot boat is scheduled for delivery in November. The all-aluminum boats, designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, measure 52.5 x 17-ft. with a 4.8 ft. draft, and are designed to reach 25 knots. The Portland pilots' launch will be powered by twin Caterpillar 3406E diesel engines, each delivering 600 bhp at 2,100 rpm, with Twin Disc M65114A gear-boxes. The Delaware pilots, on the other hand, chose Daewoo V18TIM 10-cylinder engines, coupled to ZF 350A gears. The engines turn five-blade Hall & Stavert bronze propellers. The Portland launch will have a Northern Lights generator, with 10 kW of output. Both vessels will be equipped with heated handrails and decks to prevent ice build-up in the winter. They are designed to have wide side-decks, and side and rear doors. At the transom will be throttle and steering controls and a winch-operated U-frame over a recessed platform for pilot rescue operations.