Monday, October 13, 2008

Jeffboat builds new barge for 2009

Amidst the crowd of river barges at Jeffboat, USA, a new 50,000-barrel asphalt barge for Andrie Inc stands out.

The sophisticated craft is measures 109.7 metres by 18.3 metres with a 7.3-metre moulded depth. The barge’s cargo system includes a Fulton Thermal FT-1400-C with a 12 million BTU per hour capacity that incorporates 9,905 metres of 2.5-inch (6.35cm) pipe and an insulated deck to keep the cargo at the proper temperature for delivery even while underway. The two Warren 2500 GPM cargo pumps are powered by a pair of Cummins QSM11-M engines each rated for 265kW at continuous duty. An additional Cummins QSM11-DM powers a 250kW electric generator. A 8.2-metre-deep notch fitted with JAK articulation socket plates characterises the stern of the barge. To push the barge the company’s 36.5-metre 2,685kW tug ‘Karen Andrie’ has been fitted with the cylinder units for the JAK-400 coupling system in anticipation of the new barge. he barge, to be named ‘Endeavour’ is fitted with four Seaway approved Markey mooring winches, two Markey anchor winches. Cargo hoses will be handled by a 15-tonne capacity crane with a 18.3-metre boom. In the bow, the barge is also fitted with an OmniThruster waterjet bow thruster. Power for the HT 600 OmniThruster is provided by a Cummins QSK19-DM-powered 600kW generator that in turn drives the 373kW thruster. Jeffboat is expected to deliver the barge ‘Endeavour’ at their Jeffersonville yard in early 2009.
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HMM ups its Russia game

Seoul: Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) this week began its dedicated feeder service linking major North European ports and St. Petersburg, the gateway to Russia. The South Korean operator used to rely on common feeder services.

But it has decided to meet the growing cargo traffic to Russia by opening the new service under its alliance with Team Lines, one of Europe's leading feeder container operators. The service consists of two weekly loop runs. Transit times (T/T) from Japanese ports to St. Petersburg are 35-39 days. Along with the inauguration of its own business base in St. Petersburg, the launch of the dedicated feeder service is in line with HMM's strategy to expand its presence in the rapidly growing Russian market. Each of the two loops connects St. Petersburg to Rotterdam, Hamburg and Bremerhaven on a weekly rotation basis. HMM set up its own business base in St. Petersburg in January 2008 in a joint venture with leading Russian logistics service provider DELO Group. As the growth of the Asia-Europe trade decelerates, the Korean operator has been stepping up its business activities in the fast growing Russian market.
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Marsun delivers first of eight crewboats

Thailand: Marsun Shipyard has delivered the first two of its eight crewboats for operation in the Gulf of Thailand.

The crewboats will be chartered to the oil industry and can carry up to 100 tonnes of cargo. Three Cummins KTA38 M2 engines, rated for 1,007kW at 1,950rpm, power the 36 by 7.6-metre crewboats. The engines turn propellers through Twin Disc gears and two Cummins 6BT-powered 90kW generators provide the auxiliary power. Each crewboat can carry eight crew members and seat 92 passengers. The third and fourth crewboats will be delivered in November.
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Cosco cuts steel on second Sevan 650 unit

NANTONG, CHINA: China's Cosco Shipyard Group started work on its second drilling unit for Norway's Sevan Marine. A steel cutting ceremony on the second Sevan 650 drilling unit was held on Oct. 10 at the Cosco Nantong shipyard.

To date, the Chinese shipyard is contracted to construct the hulls of three Sevan 650 drilling units. The first unit is due for completion by the end of this year or early 2009. The cylinder-shaped Sevan 650 is designed for operations in ultra-deepwater and all ice-free areas, including the Barents Seas. Each of the drilling units is about 85 metres (279 ft) long, 75 metres (246 ft) wide and weighs about 55,350 tonnes (60,885 tons). The drilling unit will be equipped with 10,000 feet (3,048 m) of riser storage, an internal oil storage capacity of up to 150,000 barrels of oil and variable deck load of more than 15,000 tonnes (136,364 tons).
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