Keppel Nantong Wins $75m in Tug Contracts
Keppel Nantong Shipyard won three contracts worth a total of $75m, including owner furnished equipment, to build eight tugs. The first contract is secured from Smit Internationale Beheer B.V (SMIT) to build two 90-ton bollard pull offshore support tugs. It will have anchor handling, diving support, and fire fighting capabilities. Delivery of these two vessels is expected in the first
half of 2010. They will be deployed in West Africa. The second and third contracts are awarded by Keppel Smit Towage Pte Ltd and Maju Maritime Pte Ltd. Each contract is for the construction of three 65-ton bollard pull twinscrew Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs. They will be built in accordance to the MTD 3265ST design, developed by Keppel O&M's technology unit, Marine Technology Development (MTD). The vessels are expected to be progressively delivered in the year of 2011.
Catamaran Natchan Rera Delivered
The Natchan Rera -- which entered service September 1 -- is being described as a breath of Main Particulars 112.6 m fresh air in Japanese sea travel, bringing a new Length, o.a. Beam (molded) 30.5 m concept in ferry travel to those crossing Tsugaru Draft 3.93 m 40 knots Strait between the islands of Hokkaido and Service speed Deadweight to 1450 tons Honshu. Total persons 800 (including crew) The 61-nautical mile run across the Strait takes Vehicle Deck450 truck-lane m, plus 193 95 minutes, approximately half the time current- cars; or 355 cars ly taken by conventional ships. While passengers are reaching their destination twice as quickly, Higashi Nihon Ferry is also changing the quality of time passengers spend on board from one of simple transportation to that of a high-class comfortable hospitality-focused experience. By the end of her second week in service the luxury ferry was already sailing at full capacity. Launched into Hobart's River Derwent on June 30, the 112-m Wave Piercing ferry commenced sea trials on July 19 before being handed over to her new owner, Higashi Nihon Ferry, on August 1. Four weeks later, after crew training to meet the requirements of the IMO's High Speed Craft Code and also a series of promotional cruises on Tsugaru Strait, the Natchan Rera carried her first farepaying passengers. The Natchan Rera is a busy craft, Higashi Nihon Ferry offering four high speed round trips a day with a crossing time of approximately 95 minutes.
November 2007
69