Vessel run out of fuel in the middle of Mediterranean

The "Lady Mary" on Apr 11, 2011, was reported adrift and disabled between Turkey and Cyprus on pos. 35 49.8N 033 06.0E due to the vessel running out of fuel.
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Source: Sea News

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Pirates free Thai ship for $5 million

MOGADISHU — Somali pirates on Tuesday said they received a ransom of five million dollars to release the MV Thor Nexus, a Thai cargo vessel hijacked on December 25 last year.
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Source: AFP

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NOL announces clean-air milestone in Singapore

Shipping line is first to use low-sulphur fuel at port; expects 90% emissions reduction

SINGAPORE: 12 APRILl, 2011 – NOL Group today announced a maritime milestone: its vessels will become the first to use cleaner-burning, low-sulphur gas oil in Singapore.

The decision is expected to curb sulphur oxides emissions from ships by almost 90%. Sulphur oxides are considered a key component of acid rain. Ash and particulate matter emissions could be reduced by 80% to 90%.

“We are proud to be the first container shipping line to convert to cleaner-burning fuel here,” said Eng Aik Meng, President of APL, the NOL Group’s shipping line. “As Singapore’s largest carrier, we feel a responsibility to manage the environmental impact of global trade.”

All 80 APL vessels calling in Singapore will start converting to marine gas oil at berth tomorrow. The ships make more than 900 port calls here annually.

“We greatly welcome APL’s decision to switch to using low sulphur fuel in Singapore and hope that more shipping companies will follow APL’s lead in doing so,” said Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

APL’s switch to cleaner-burning fuel beats a deadline set by the International Maritime Organisation. The deadline – adopted by Singapore – calls for reducing the sulphur content of marine fuel to 3.5% in 2012; and 0.5% in 2020. Marine gas oil, which APL will use in Singapore, has an average sulphur content of 0.25%.

Marine gas oil is more expensive than standard marine fuel, APL said, but better for the environment.
APL began its voluntary fuel-switching programme in Los Angeles and Seattle in 2007. The shipping line has since extended the programme to Vancouver, Hong Kong, New York and New Jersey.
Source: APL

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GOLAR LNG LIMITED - New Building LNG Carriers

Golar LNG Limited ("Golar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a firm contract to build four 160,000 m3 LNG carrriers with the Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd ("Samsung"). The newbuilding contracts were originally entered into by Companies affiliated with Golar's largest shareholder World Shipholding. Golar has acquired the newbuilding contracts from the affiliated party based on the original contracting terms.
Three vessels are to be delivered in 2013 and one in early 2014. The total cost of the four vessels is approximately $800 million. In addition Golar has an option to acquire further four vessels for delivery in 2013 and onwards.
Golar has options to include ice strengthening / winterisation of the ships as well as regasification equipment.

The vessels will be delivered with dual fuel diesel electric engines which will be significantly more efficient than steam turbines thereby reducing fuel costs materially. The new engines will also have lower emission levels of pollutants and CO2,
Chairman John Fredriksen says in a comment: "The supply / demand balance for LNG shipping looks increasingly attractive. It is clear from the continued strong global LNG demand and supply growth that a significant amount of new infrastructure, including shipping, will be required over the coming years. The relatively early delivery dates and the option package make this an attractive deal for Golar. Samsung's experience and ability to build FSRU's further strengthens the investment case."
Golar sees further opportunities in the new building markets and is currently actively pursuing several other projects with the target to increase the newbuilding program for early deliveries further.
Given the likely strengthening of the shipping market in the coming years Golar will spend some time to evaluate employment alternatives for the ships. Golar might consider a mixture of several different employment opportunities. These opportunities include spot trading, employment within Golar Commodities for its own cargo trading activities, joint venture structures with LNG suppliers and possible long-term time charters to third parties. Commitment within the FSRU segment for several of the ships seems also like a very realistic and attractive opportunity.
The equity financing of the newbuildings has been secured through the proceeds received from the initial public offering of Golar LNG Partners.

The Board of Golar LNG is very pleased with the way the Golar LNG Partners IPO has been received in the capital markets and sees the newbuildings program as a important project securing the future growth for both Companies.
Source: Golar LNG

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Oversupply to remain even as Asia shipping demand grows

The global shipping industry is looking to Asia for future growths but oversupply continue to be a top challenge for container vessel and oil tanker operators, industry players said Tuesday.
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Source: Xinhua

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Safe Bulkers, Inc. Announces Pricing of Its Public Offering of Common Stock

Safe Bulkers, Inc., an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced yesterday that its public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock(the "Public Offering") was priced at $8.40 per share. The gross proceeds from the Public Offering before the underwriting discount and other offering expenses are expected to be approximately $42 million.
The Company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of the common stock.
The Company plans to use the net proceeds of the Public Offering for vessel acquisitions, capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes, including repayment of indebtedness.
Morgan Stanley and BofA Merrill Lynch are acting as joint book-running managers and Evercore Partners is acting as co-manager of the Public Offering, which is being made under an effective shelf registration statement.
Source: Safe Bulkers Inc.

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Global container market to rebound in second half this year

The global container market is set to rebound in the third quarter after a sharp downturn driven by overcapacity and limited demand, senior industry executives said on Tuesday.
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Source: Reuters

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Fuel-Tanker Bookings to Japan Rise 59% After Quake, Tsunami Destroy Plants

Bookings of tankers to ship fuels to Japan rose 59 percent in the three weeks after the nation’s devastating earthquake and tsunami damaged refineries and power- generation plants.
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Source: Bloomberg

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Mideast crude tanker rates fall, bunker costs bite

Crude oil tanker earnings on the key Middle East route fell on Monday as growing vessel availability and slower cargo fixing weighed on rates.
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Source: Reuters

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Newbuilding orders continue decline as second hand vessel deals increase

A positive pattern has started to unfold in the shipping industry, as new building orders appear to be on a steadily declining road after more than one year of investment frenzy. Should this trend keep growing, it could help alleviate the oversupply concerns
for most ship types and market segments in the following years.
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Source: Hellenic Shipping News

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Statoil receives approval to use Island Wellserver on TOGI

12.04.2011 | Statoil has received consent to use the Island Wellserver mobile facility for well intervention activities on Troll Oseberg Gass Injection (TOGI).

Island Wellserver

In addition to the fields included in previous consents a need has arisen to carry out minor well intervention work on TOGI.

The objective of the activity on TOGI is to permanently plugback all five wells on 31/5-B and to prepare the subsea template for removal.

Island Wellserver will kill the wells with mud/brine, install plugs and pull Xmas trees.
Source: Ptil

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Wood Group Kenny to lead US$1m technology initiatives

Wood Group Kenny announces the launch of two new joint industry technology initiatives, SURF IM and SLARP, valued at US$1m, which are considered critical for the future operation of subsea systems, particularly for deepwater and long-tieback locations. Wood Group Kenny has been proactive in proposing these initiatives to the industry during the past year, and 12 international operators have opted to participate in, and fund, these projects which will be performed by Wood Group Kenny over the next 12 to 18 months.

The SURF IM joint industry project encompasses the integrity management (IM) of subsea, umbilical, riser and flowline equipment (SURF) systems, with a focus on subsea equipment and an objective to establish the first best-practice that amalgamates the integrity management strategy for all SURF components through a consistently applied methodology. Led by Wood Group Integrity Management (WGIM) and supported by MCS Kenny, two Wood Group Kenny businesses, the project will identify current technology developments and needs for subsea inspection and condition monitoring.

Led by two Wood Group Kenny businesses, MCS Kenny and MSi Kenny, SLARP (slug loading and response in pipelines) focuses on developing design and analysis techniques to avoid pipeline vibrations caused by fluctuating internal fluids transported by the pipeline. Such vibrations can result in shutdowns or expensive intervention to repair or replace sections of the pipeline.

Kieran Kavanagh, Group director for Technology, Wood Group Kenny said, "We are delighted to be leading two technology initiatives that are very important for the subsea industry right now. The industry participation is substantial, with major operators and subsea contractors involved. These are very much international projects that will impact the subsea industry on a worldwide basis."
Source: Wood Group

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Eni announces successful appraisal and testing of Sankofa, offshore Ghana

San Donato Milanese, 12 April 2011 - Eni announces the successful appraisal and testing of the Sankofa discovery in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) licence, offshore Ghana.

The Sankofa-2 well was drilled in 864 meters water depth at a distance of about 55 km from the coast and successfully appraised the Sankofa discovery. The well was tested and delivered a (constrained) rate of approximately 29,5 mmscfd of high quality gas and 1000 boepd of 52° API condensate. The appraisal well confirmed the presence of 35m net gas and condensate sands of the Cretaceous age with excellent reservoir characteristics. A six  meter oil leg, which will be the object of further studies, was also encountered.

Initial evaluations indicate that the appraisal well has significantly increased the preliminary estimate of gas in place at the discovery, confirming Sankofa's potential to become the first development of non-associated gas from the Ghana offshore.

The Sankofa well results provide evidence of the success of the exploration activities carried out by the Eni-led consortium, in full compliance with safety and environmental protection standards.

Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited is the operator of the OCTP license with a 47.22% interest, Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited 37.78% and state company Ghana National Petroleum Corporation GNPC (15.00%). GNPC will have a back in option for an additional 5%.

Eni continues to work with its partners and the Republic of Ghana to advance its exploration and appraisal programs, as well as contribute to the development of a gas infrastructure in the country.

Eni has been present in Sub-Saharan Africa since the early 1960s and is currently operating in Angola, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Mozambique. Eni's operated production in the area is around 450,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Source: ENI

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Sinopec to Join Petrobras at Offshore Blocks, Gabrielli Says

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (386) will team up with Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4) to develop offshore areas of the Para-Maranhao basin in northern Brazil after negotiating for a year, Brazil’s state-run producer said.
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Source: Reuters

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EnCore Oil - Successful Cladhan Appraisal

EnCore Oil plc (LSE: EO.) is pleased to provide an update on the Cladhan appraisal well 210/30a-4 located in UK North Sea Block 210/30a.
The appraisal well was drilled as a deviated well to a Total Measured Depth of 12,252 feet and encountered oil bearing Upper Jurassic sandstones in two separate reservoir intervals. No Oil Water Contact was observed.  The Upper reservoir sequence had a gross True Vertical Thickness (TVT) of 18 feet and a net sand of 13 feet TVT. The sand has an average porosity of 16 per cent. and hydrocarbon saturation of 82 per cent. Pressures suggest that this reservoir is in a separate pressure regime from the Lower reservoir. In the Lower reservoir sequence, the main reservoir in previous Cladhan wells, the well encountered a gross TVT of 256 feet and a net sand of 21 feet TVT. The sand has an average porosity of 16 per cent. and hydrocarbon saturation of 75 per cent. Initial pressure data indicates that the lower sand is in pressure communication with, and is part of the original Cladhan discovery. The well has proven an Oil Down To of 10,447 feet True Vertical Depth Sub Sea (TVDSS), giving a minimum hydrocarbon column of over 1,200 feet.
Upon completion of operations at well 210/30a-4, the Transocean Prospect semi-submersible rig will commence the first planned side-track, 210/30a-4z to evaluate the Upper Jurassic sandstones significantly down dip from the 210/30a-4 well in an attempt to define oil water contacts for both the upper and lower reservoir units, as well as investigating the potential for thickening of the upper unit. It is expected that this side-track will take approximately 20 - 25 days subject to weather or operational delays.
Commenting on the latest well result, Graham Doré, EnCore’s Exploration Director said:
“This is an important result for Cladhan. The well has confirmed both the presence of a large oil column in the main Cladhan reservoir as well as a new hydrocarbon bearing reservoir sequence, and has yet to find an Oil Water Contact. The next side-track to the east will evaluate the fan structure some 1,000 feet deeper, and has the potential to encounter improved net to gross as well as establishing Oil Water Contacts for both reservoir sequences. This will be followed by a side-track to the south which is designed to confirm the presence of oil in the Central channel”.

Source: EnCore Oil

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Statoil submits plan for development and operation for the Vigdis North-East

Statoil has today submitted a plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Vigdis North-East development in the North Sea to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Production start is scheduled for December 2012.

This is the second fast-track development plan submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy this year. The Visund South fast-track development plan was handed over to the ministry earlier this year.

“We envisage the first five fast-track developments coming on stream at the turn of the year 2012/13,” says Øystein Michelsen, Statoil’s executive vice president for Development and Production Norway. “The two plans we have submitted so far this year prove that we are on the right track regarding this part of our portfolio.”

Vigdis North-East is planned as a subsea development located 1.6 kilometres from the existing subsea installation on the Vigdis field.

The development will comprise a standard template with four wells – three producers and one water injector. Vigdis North-East will be tied back to the Snorre A field, which is located approximately seven kilometres away, via the existing infrastructure.

Produced oil and gas will be transported in a new pipeline to the existing Vigdis B template and then piped to Snorre A.

Øystein Michelsen (left), Statoil’s executive vice president for Development and Production Norway, handed over the plan for development and production of Vigdis North-East to state secretary Per Rune Henriksen of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy at Statoil’s energy seminar today.

Recoverable reserves are estimated at around 33 million barrels of oil equivalent, with investments calculated at NOK 4.2 billion (current price).

Infrastructure-led discoveries help extend the life of the installations and are an important contributor to optimising potential on the Norwegian continental shelf. Snorre is one of the areas with an established infrastructure and spare processing capacity.

“We have extensive experience and expertise in the area in addition to available processing and transport capacity,” says Halfdan Knudsen, head of the fast-track portfolio. “Therefore Vigdis North-East is suited for a fast-track development with standard solutions. It will also increase the volumes sent to Snorre A.”

Vigdis North-East is one of the projects of the fast-track portfolio, which was launched in 2010. The goal is to make smaller finds profitable by halving the time from discovery to production through the utilisation of standard solutions.

Facts:

• Location: Tampen/Snorre/Vigdis
• Recoverable volumes: 33 million barrels of oil equivalent
• Investments: NOK 4.2 billion (current price)
• Discovered: March 2009
• Reservoir: Fluvial sandstone reservoir, Statfjord formation
• Partners: Statoil (operator, 41.5%), Petoro (30%), ExxonMobil (10.5%), Idemitsu (9.6%), Total (5.6%) and RWE Dea Norge AS (2.8%)

Contracts:Most of the major contracts for the Vigdis North-East project have already been awarded:

• Template: FMC
• Marine installations: Subsea 7/Technip
• Workover systems: Aker
• Modifications: Contract not awarded

Source: Statoil

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Petrobras: Guará Extension Well confirms high productivity in pre-salt

Rio de Janeiro, April 11, 2011 - Petróleo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras announces that it has completed the formation test in the first extension well of Guará confirming the accumulation’s high productivity estimates, located in ultra deep waters, in the Santos Basin pre-salt.

During the test in well 3-SPS-69 (3-BRSA-788), located in block BM-S-9, flow rates of approximately 6 thousand barrels per day of good quality oil (30º API) were confirmed, limited to the capacity of the equipment used. Initial production potential is approximately 50 thousand barrels of oil per day.

Also referred to as Guará Norte, the well is located at a water depth of 2,118 meters, about 305 kilometers off the coast of the State of São Paulo, 15 kilometers northeast of 1-SPS-55 (Guará discovery well).

The formation test of discovery well 1-SPS-55, executed earlier, had already showed similar numbers to the results of Guará Norte well, demonstrating excellent quality of the reservoirs.

At the moment the second extension well, Guará Sul (3-SPS-82A), about 7 kilometers south of the Guará discovery well is being drilled.

The consortium, formed by Petrobras (45% - operator), BG Group (30%) and Repsol  Sinopec Brasil (25%), will give continuity to the activities and investments necessary to assess the deposits discovered in this area, as per the Evaluation Plan approved by the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).
Source: Petrobras

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Industrial Auctioneers Purchase Odense Steel Shipyard

COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maynards Europe GmbH and Hilco Industrial Europe (Hilco) today announced their purchase of the equipment of the Odense Steel Shipyard (OSS) in Denmark, long known in the industry as an innovative site for shipbuilding design and construction. A wholly-owned subsidiary of AP Moller Maersk, OSS is the largest shipyard in Europe and for decades has built some of the world’s largest container vessels, oil tankers and RO-RO ships.

“The facility offers machinery that can be used in a variety of industries. We expect strong purchase interest from a wide range of end-users.”

“The sale of the Odense yard has valuable equipment of interest to the shipbuilding industry around the world,” stated Daniel Kroeger, Managing Director of Maynards Europe. “The facility offers machinery that can be used in a variety of industries. We expect strong purchase interest from a wide range of end-users.” Mr. Kroeger noted that a closur like this is often a good business opportunity, allowing companies to upgrade their current assets while keeping capital purchase costs down. Equipment available ranges in value from multimillion-Euro heavy welding lines to mobile cranes.

In August 2009 the 92-year-old shipyard announced its imminent closure, citing competitive market pressure from the Far East (particularly China) and considerable annual deficits. Maynards’ European office took note, and approached OSS with an offer to liquidate the 1.1-million sq. metre facility.

Maynards and Hilco took title to the OSS assets (including the shipbuilding manufacturing lines) on April 6, and immediately began an initial sales phase entertaining offers from en-bloc purchasers and strategic end-users in the shipbuilding industry. This will be followed by a series of multi-day auctions offering thousands of modern manufacturing, fabricating, mobile and support equipment items. The auctions will begin in June 2011 and continue until March 2012.

The OSS project signals a growth in Maynards’ European asset valuation and disposition activities. “As the global economy recovers, so do asset purchase prices in auction and liquidation scenarios, making the industrial market an exciting place for Maynards,” Mr. Kroeger commented. Recently, Maynards has managed sales of entire mining, aluminum, and forestry operations, and handled the asset disposition of large General Motors projects (such as the GM Opel Assembly facility in Antwerp, Belgium) as well as three former Chrysler North America plants.

About Maynards:

Maynards Europe GmbH is a subsidiary of Maynards Industries Ltd. (“Maynards”). Maynards offers global auction, liquidation, and valuation services to all sectors of the industrial and retail marketplace. An expert at maximizing recovery values for 109 years, Maynards is the largest automotive equipment auctioneer and liquidator in the world, and is known worldwide as a top-tier resource for end-users and dealers for industrial machinery and equipment ranging in size from entire facilities to single machines. More information at www.maynards.com.

About Hilco:

Hilco Industrial Europe is a recognised leader in the acquisition & disposition of industrial capital assets, including plant and machinery, industrial inventory, furniture, fixtures and real estate. As a member of the Hilco Organization, Hilco Industrial Europe team members have access to a vast array of resources that enable us to accurately anticipate the disposition or liquidation value of machinery and equipment used in a variety of industrial applications. Whatever a company's business or the nature of its assets, Hilco Industrial’s performance is underpinned by a deeply-rooted understanding of asset values and marketability.
Source: Business Wire

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China Shipbuilding plans $1.9 bln private placement

China Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd plans to raise up to 12.5 billion yuan ($1.9 billion) by selling new shares to a select group of investors, the company said on Tuesday.
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Source: Reuters

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YungPu Delivered the First Two-Stroke Low-Speed Marine Diesel Engine

In December 2009, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to MHI) and China Zhejiang YungPu Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to YungPu) signed an agreement that YungPu would be licensed to manufacture Mitsubishi UE low-speed marine diesel engine. The agreement has come into force since January 2010. On March 29^th 2011, YungPu held a celebration ceremony for delivering its first low-speed marine diesel engine in the assembly workshop of the production base. This is the first marine diesel engine of this type 6UEC33LSII which is the most advanced two-stroke low-power & low-speed marine diesel engine in the world, and it’s an energy-saving & high-efficiency, green & environment-protecting diesel engine compliant with the latest Tier-Ⅱemission standard adopted by IMO in 2011.

 

Even though the type YHM-MHI-6UEC33LSII two-stroke low-power & low-speed marine diesel engine brought in by YungPu was developed by Japan MHI, all parts of this diesel engine were manufactured by YungPu instead of importing the full set from Japan. In the process of self-developing, the quality for materials and fabrication was inspected and traced by quality controllers from Japan which is completely complied with technical requirements of MHI. This diesel engine indicated the breakthrough of energy-saving, environment-protecting technology in China’s shipbuilding industry, especially for the tonnages between 3,000T and 20,000T, which fully filled the blank of the low-power & low-speed in domestic shipbuilding market. This diesel engine has the characteristic of low speed, fuels saving, large torque, operating expediently, low maintenance cost, excellent performance, which is completely suitable for domestic river shipping market as low-power & low-speed marine diesel engines applied on large vessels.

 

It will be benefit of both economic and social values from popularizing the two-stroke low-power & low-speed diesel engine applied on small vessels. As reported, YungPu will fabricate the low-power & lower-speed marine diesel engines as type YHM-MAN-35MC-C9 and type YHM-MAN-40MC-C9 which will be jointly developed by YungPu and MAN（German Company）. It is believed that YungPu’s power on the fabrication of marine diesel engines would be recognized by more and more experts of shipping industry, which will contribute to China’s environment-protection, high-efficiency and green shipbuilding.

Source: CSGCIC

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The Vyborg Shipyard will construct blocks for suppliers.

Within May - June, 2011 all workers of Vyborg Shipyard will be called out of dead time. It became possible thanks to the contract signed on April, 8th this year between Vyborg Shipyard and Arctech Helsinki Shipyard (AHS).
The Vyborg Shipyard will construct blocks for two icebreaking supply-vessels. The amount of works under the contract will allow to load production capacity for 100 %. Blocks for the first vessel should be delivered to the Customer in December 2011 – February, 2012, for the second vessel - in II quarter 2012.
The Vyborg Shipyard acts as the subcontractor in the building contract of two icebreaking supply-vessels between LLC “Sovkomflot” and AHS. Ready vessels should be transferred to LLC “Sovkomflot” in the spring of 2013.
Source: Vyborg Shipyard

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New innovative IMC ferry designs presented by Wärtsilä and Deltamarin

In October 2010, Wärtsilä and Deltamarin announced that the two companies were co-operating to develop a series of innovative ferry designs. The Integrated Modular Customized, IMC designs are now ready for introduction to the ferry market.

Deltamarin, the foremost design company in the cruise and ferry market and Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions provider, have developed a series of new IMC ferry designs which will undergo extensive model testing. The aim is to achieve considerable cost savings, both in building the ships and in operating them. At the same time, the latest environmental technology will be utilized to meet current and future regulations.

Ferries have traditionally been expensive to build for a number of reasons, but primarily because it is not feasible for them to be standardized. In essence, each ferry is custom designed, and they represent less than one per cent of the world’s shipping fleet. Similarly, operational costs tend to be high because of the regional and seasonal nature of the business, and as a result of port and weather restrictions.

“The value of this IMC integrated project is in the fully optimized solution that we can offer to ferry owners and operators. Both Deltamarin and Wärtsilä are contributing the best elements of their know-how and capabilities in a unique approach that provides a distinct competitive edge. A world-class ferry designer such as Deltamarin is an outstanding partner for us in fulfilling our goal of offering totally integrated solutions to this market,” says Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Cruise & Ferry Segment, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Modularisation offers major cost savings

Deltamarin is contributing its full range of design and engineering services, including a tender package, contract design, and specifications for ferry owners and the designated shipyard. Wärtsilä machinery and systems are fully integrated into the designs to achieve the greatest possible fuel savings and emission reductions. The IMC designs will be prepared for conventional as well as future fuels, including LNG. Every effort is being made to achieve the lowest possible building costs. Deltamarin’s contracting services also support the owners and assist shipyards during construction, when necessary.

Within this co-operative agreement between the two companies, the partners are preparing the IMC designs in teamwork with key system suppliers and authorities.

Deltamarin has developed its own Parametric Design method for ships, which splits the design into pure cost elements and revenue generating aspects. This unique method opens the possibility for modularization of construction, machinery, large equipment and onboard systems. This immediately presents considerable newbuilding cost savings, and simplified maintenance of the ship. Furthermore, it offers a unique appearance of the ferry and customer-dedicated service.

Responding to market needs

The new ferry designs are intended to meet the needs of the ferry industry, strikingly present in the ferry replacement market .These include the need to lower newbuilding costs; the need for optimized designs, especially for small RoPax- ferries, that offer lower emissions, improved performance, and simplified maintenance; the need for an early feasibility study before investment decision; and the need to make ships easier to trade and thus attract financing.

A notable strength of the IMC ferry designs is that they can be readily adapted to changes and developments requested by the owner. The Parametric approach makes it possible to demonstrate design changes immediately, and the design is re-optimized in order to comply with regulations, best fuel consumption and overall performance. This has not been possible with earlier design methods without increasing the costs.

The IMC ferry designs will be presented during the Ferry Shipping Conference11, on board the m/v Cruise Barcelona, 12-14 April, 2011.
Source:Wärtsilä

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Cargotec received an order for MacGregor RoRo cargo access equipment

CARGOTEC CORPORATION, TRADE PRESS RELEASE 12 APRIL 2011 AT 10.00 AM EET

Commercial vessels with capabilities for special types of cargo benefit from proven RoRo access technology

In March this year, Cargotec received an order for MacGregor RoRo cargo access equipment for two multi role vessels under construction at the German yard P+S Werften in Stralsund for ferry operator DFDS Seaways.  Both vessels are due to be delivered in the first half of 2012. 

The 3,000 lane-metre capacity newbuildings will also have room for 342 TEU on the weather deck, a special requirement of the Danish-German ARK project for the transport of military vehicles and containers.

The extensive outfit of MacGregor equipment for each ship comprises:

·         Stern ramp/door stbd
·         Stern ramp/door port
·         Side ramp/door port
·         Ramp cover
·         Front door
·         Hoistable car deck
·         Movable ramp to car deck
·         Pilot/bunker doors 
·         Engine room hatch 
·         Main power pack

Göran Hugon, Sales Manager, RoRo Ships says:  "Cargotec has co-operated both with the yard and the owner for many years, and we won this order because of the proven record of MacGregor RoRo equipment installed in previous newbuildings for DFDS."
Source: Cargotec

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