Former Leading U.S. Builder
Becomes Leading U.S. Repairer
BMD Posts Successful Year; Eyes Retrofit Market
Maritime Reporter Staff
Following a period of transition
and consolidation of its marine op-
erations, Bethlehem Steel Corpora-
tion, at one time one of the leading
shipbuilders in the nation, has made
a successful transformation into one
of the leading U.S. full service ship
repairers.
From August 1989, after a four-
month strike was settled at the
yard, to October 1990, Bethlehem
Steel Corporation's Baltimore Ma-
rine Division (BMD), located at
Sparrows Point, Md., drydocked a
total of 28 commercial and govern-
mental ships. Twenty-one of the
vessels, composed of U.S.-flag and
foreign-flag commercial, U.S. Navy,
Military Sealift Command and
Ready Reserve Force ships, were
repaired during 1990.
In an interview with MARITIME
REPORTER, BMD officials were
particularly encouraged by the com-
pany's success in the cruise ship
repair sector.
"We are one of the leading U.S.
yards in the cruise ship repair
market," said James L. Joyce,
BMD's ship repair sales manager.
"However, we're not looking for
place or show. We're looking for
first," he said.
NORSHIPCO, located in Nor-
folk, Va., with total ship-repair sales
approaching $250 million in 1990, is
generally considered the leading
U.S. cruise ship repairer.
According to Mr. Joyce, the Bal-
Carnival Cruise Lines' Celebration in drydock at Bethlehem Steel's Baltimore Marine Division,
where she underwent 150,000 pounds of steel replacement in 16 days.
timore Marine Division already has
firm bookings for drydocking four
cruise ships for 1991 and eight ten-
tative bookings as well. BMD plans
to simultaneously drydock two
cruise ships at the yard—one in its
huge 1,200- by 200-foot basin and
one in its 40,000-ton-lift-capacity
floating drydock Bethpride.
During a tour of the yard, workers
were observed performing repairs
on the 47,000-gross ton Celebration,
owned by Carnival Cruise Lines.
According to BMD's chief estima-
tor Thomas J. Young, the project
called for the replacement of
150,000 pounds of steel in 16 days.
The Celebration project follows
closely on the heels of the recently
completed work on the ITB Francis
Hammer—160,000 pounds of steel
replacement in 21 days.
Besides the Celebration, BMD
was also preparing the USS Water-
ford (ARD-5), a Navy submarine
drydock normally operating out of
Groton, Conn., for a mid-December
delivery. The Waterford was un-
dergoing steel, pipe and valve re-
newals under an $8.7-million con-
tract. BMD was replacing steel on
the operating platforms on both
pontoon decks. The Waterford was
docked in BMD's huge 1,200- by
200-foot basin, which can handle
vessels as long as 1,200 feet and wide
as 192 feet. A two-position interme-
diate gate can divide the basin's
length into sections measuring 300
feet and 900 feet, or 685 feet and 515
feet. This gate increases the yard's
flexibility for handling a variety of
jobs simultaneously.
The yard also recently completed
300,000 pounds of steel replacement
on the ITBs New York and Jackson-
ville.
While the volume of work at
BMD has been very good for 1990,
business has slowed as of late due to
Operation Desert Shield.
"The initial effect of Operation
Desert Shield was a flurry of activity
in reactivating ships from the re-
serve fleet," said Mr. Joyce. "Now,
however, government work is being
delayed due to the uncertainties in
budgeting for Operation Desert
Shield. In addition, some commer-
cial operators are deferring dockings
in order to make their ships avail-
able for government charter," he
said.
Despite their success in the ship-
repair market, however, BMD offi-
cials were quick to emphasize the
fact that they are not out of the ves-
sel and barge new construction
markets and are pursuing a number
of tank barge and double-hull fore-
body tanker retrofit designs.
"We just completed the tests for a
preliminary design of a 60,000-bar-
rel tank barge and have plans for a
90,000-100,000-barrel design," said
Karl E. Briers, BMD marketing
manager. "We are also working on a
double-hull forebody for two classes
of tankers—one for a class built by
Bethlehem Steel in the seventies.
The trick is trying to make the fore-
body an attractive option for the
owner."
According to Robert A. Fiorel-
li, BMD's manager of marketing,
sales, planning and technical serv-
ices, newbuilding double-hull tank-
er contracts spurred by the Oil Pol-
lution Act of 1990 would probably
start being awarded in 1992.
"Our facilities, as far as hull
structure goes, are as good as any
shipyard in this country. We are
currently talking with two major
operators about developing (tanker
retrofit) designs," Mr. Fiorelli
said. "We are interested in series
construction and the multiple con-
version market," he added.
Baltimore Marine Division's posi-
tion was best summed up by Mr.
Briers who said, "We are position-
ing ourselves for the possibility of a
sustained upturn in new construc-
tion. We see that in the future for
us."
Perhaps another transition lies
ahead for Bethlehem Steel's Balti-
more Marine Division.
For free literature detailing the
facilities of BMD,
Circle 56 on Reader Service Card
Terpstra Named AAPA
Chairman Of The Board
John Terpstra, executive direc-
tor of the Port of Tacoma, has been
named chairman of the board of the
American Association of Port Au-
thorities (AAPA) for 1990-91. Mr.
Terpstra was installed as AAPA
chairman at the recently concluded
79th annual AAPA convention held
in Nassau, the Bahamas. He suc-
ceeded Dominic Taddeo, Port of
Montreal general manager and chief
executive officer.
44 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
Digital Wave Publishing