EDITOR'S NOTE
I
had the privilege to spend some time -- 18 minutes to be exact -- to chat with Vice Admiral Paul E. Sullivan, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, last month. I don't believe I've had a more information-laden 18 minutes in my life. VADM Sullivan heads the organization that is tasked with cradle to grave responsibilities in the building, design, testing, overhauling, modernizing and disposal of the U.S. Navy fleet, managing more than 53,000 people and a $25 billion annual budget. VADM Sullivan shared with me insights as to the technologies and trends that will essentially shape the U.S. Navy fleet of the next generation. He is also the speaker for the Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering's (SNAME) Annual Banquet, to be held in conjunction with the 2007 SNAME Maritime Technology Conference & Expo and Ship Production Symposium, scheduled for November 14-16, 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. As VADM Sullivan pointed out during our 1,080 seconds on the phone, "we are in the midst of a game-changing evolution" in the marine industry. His comments are in reference to ships of war, and specifically to the incorporation of the 'electronic & information age' and their effects on ship operations and weapons, as well as to the ship design, construction and life-cycle maintenance process. But this evolution transcends commercial/military boundaries, and evidence is clear throughout all sectors of the market that the game has indeed changed, and that the way forward is through the acceptance and adoption of technologies that are designed to make vessel and offshore operations more efficient, safe and cost-effective. This being the marine design edition in conjunction with the SMTC&E and Ship Production Symposium, the signs are all over this edition, from the interview with VADM Sullivan on page 26, to initial details on the first-ever LNG FPSO ordered by H�egh LNG on page 10, to a profile of OSG's new 'Q-Flex' LNG carrier -- this month cover topic and a behemoth able to carry 216,000 cu. m. of LNG -- on page 34.
On the Cover
MARITIME REPORTER
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ENGINEERING NEWS
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ISSN-0025-3448 USPS-016-750
No. 10
Vol. 69
118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 tel: (212) 477-6700; fax: (212) 254-6271
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John J. O'Malley 1905 - 1980 Charles P. O'Malley 1928 - 2000
On the Cover: Pictured on this month's cover is OSG's new `Q-Flex' LNG ship. See story on page 34.
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