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Samsung Heavy Unveils New Shipbuilding Method
Samsung Heavy Industries has developed a new shipbuilding system, called the "tera-block" method, that allows the company to assemble a vessel from just two large ship blocks. An extra-large ship usually consists of dozens of blocks. But in recent years shipbuilders have been trying to reduce the number of ship blocks they need in order to boost their productivity. Bigger ship blocks allow for more efficient construction of blocks on land. And when they are welded together in a dock, bigger -- and thus fewer -- blocks lead to shorter assembly times. Samsung Heavy Industries first launched its "megablock" method in 2001, which requires about ten large ship blocks. Next it came up with the "giga-block" method using just five blocks. The new method cuts the blocks down to just two. The company recently held an opening ceremony for a new facility in China's Shandong Province that makes the jumbo blocks for the tera-block method. The company said it will build the 150-m, 10,000-ton ship pieces on land at the plant in China, and then move them to its shipyard in Geoje Island to be assembled. (Source: http://english.chosun.com)
Gazprom May Order 20 LNG Tankers
Russia's Gazprom may tender for up to 20 LNG tankers early next year, according to a Reuters report. The ships may be deemed necessary to ship LNG from the Shtokman field, according to the report. According to the report, a local shipyard official said that told Gazprom informed companies that it may tender for ships in the range of 80,000-100,000 dwt. The project in the Barents Sea is expected to start pumping 23-24 billion cu. m. of natural gas a year by 2013. (Source: Reuters)
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Retired Navy Ships as Homeless Shelters?
According to an AP report, if a Hawaii group has its way, retired Navy ships -- often used as museums, for training purposes or simply as scrap metal -- may have a new lease on life: as homeless shelters. The 642-ft destroyer tender Acadia was built in 1981 and sailed around the world several times with a crew of 1,500 before it was decommissioned in 1994. In January, Navy officials decided to dispose of, sell off or give away the vessel, which is docked at Pearl Harbor. A coalition called the Acadia Acquisition Committee is reportedly negotiating with the state for a place to put the ship. Organizers are working to figure the cost of the program, which would first include getting the ship ready for basic accommodations such as air conditioning, revamped bunks and bedrooms. (Source: AP)
Algoma Orders Tankers From China
Algoma Central Corp., through a wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with the Jiangxi Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. located in Jiangxi, China to construct three double-hulled, IMO II, petroleum product tankers. Deliveries of these three 16,500 DWT vessels are scheduled to commence in late 2010 with completion in early 2011 and they are expected to cost approximately $91m in total.
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Maritime Reporter & Engineering News