Inexa Profit Bulb Flat Technology: To Fight
Corrosion, Ease Maintenance And Conversion
Company's bulb flats to be featured on Kvaerner-built LNG tankers
Hitachi Zosen Delivers Variety Of New
Vessels
The Inexa Profil bulb flat line was expanded to
include the Jumbo Bulb Flat, a product touted by
the manufacturer as an ideal reinforcement solu-
tion for the lower side sections of double-hulled
tankers and carriers.
The bulb flat line is a compact, rounded-edge
design which reportedly simplifies maintenance
and rust prevention. The bulb flat allows easy
access for all types of surface preparation, and
features no sharp corners which reportedly can
prove difficult to reach. Up to the introduction of
the Jumbo Bulb Flat, the one serious drawback to
the bulb flat line was that it was only available in
sizes up to 430mm. But the Jumbo is available in
sizes from 400mm to 650mm, a dramatic exten-
sion in the bulb flat range. The profile is, as are
all smaller bulb flats, rust resistant. Shotblasting,
coating, inspection and cleaning are all simpli-
fied, and the surface area is reportedly smaller
than a comparable T-section or angle—a fact
which can help lower production and mainte-
nance costs.
While the bulb flat design is widely accepted
now in ship design overseas, according to Karl-
David Sundberg, the company's president,
Inexa Profil has an interested marketing eye
pointed at the U.S. market, and the expected new
business as traditional defense companies cap-
ture commercial business.
"We are excited about what goes on here, this
market is very interesting for us," Mr. Sundberg
said. "U.S. yards must capitalize on the latest
design trends to make the leap to commercial,
and we can help them as we provide the technol-
ogy and experience to make them proficient."
Finishing touches being made to one of Inexa Profil's new jumbo bulb
flats; seen here in the largest 650mm size.
Expanding Product Lines
To further enhance its business, Inexa ac-
quired the former Rockment A/S of Denmark.
The new name for the company is Inexa Panel,
and it offers a complete TNF (Thermal insula-
tion, Noise reduction and Fire protection) brand
range of wall, ceiling and floor panels. Inexa
Panel has been a market leader for 20 years, and
the TNF brand is an industry standard. Among
its accomplishments: the pioneered use of
"softcore" panels with the installation of TNF on
the Golden Odyssey in 1974.
The contract for delivery of shipbuilding sections from Inexa Profil
is signed in Lulea on October 28, by purchasing manager Jorma
Joikinen, Kvaerner Masa Yards in Turku (left), and Inexa's managing
director Christer Olson. The signing is supervised by Inexa Profil's
chairman of the board Karl-David Sundberg (standing left) and
Kvaerner Masa Yard's manager Robert Stenius.
Inexa Wins Kvaerner Contract
Inexa was awarded a contract from the Finn-
ish Kvaerner Masa-Yards to supply bulb flats as
stiffening elements for the four LNG ships to be
built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards shipyard in Turku
for Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. "The fact that we
have been able to secure the complete order for
bulb sections for this prestigious project in the
face of strong international competition strength-
ens our position as a world leading supplier of
shipbuilding sections," said Inexa's Christer
Olson.
For free information on Inexa Profil's Bulb
Flat line of products,
Circle 30 on Reader Service Card
For free information on Inexa Panel's TNF
panel line,
Circle 31 on Reader Service Card
Rowland Becomes Chairman Of
AAPA'S U.S. Delegation
Charles M. Rowland, executive director of
the Canaveral Port Authority, was officially in-
stalled as chairman of the U.S. Delegation of the
American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA),
at its 82nd Annual Convention held recently in
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Mr. Rowland has served as executive direc-
tor of the Canaveral Port Authority since March
1980.
The AAPA is an alliance of 120 seaports in 17
nations of the Western Hemisphere. The organi-
zation promotes the common interests of ports
and provides leadership on trade, transporta-
tion, environmental and other issues related to
port development and operations.
The Trident Ace, first of Hitachi Zosen's Superjet-30 series of foil-
assisted catamarans.
Hitachi Zosen's recent deliveries include some
very different ships for very different markets —
one high-speed passenger vessel, two VLCCs
and a bulk carrier — each with its own design
distinctions.
The Trident Ace, the first of its Superjet-30
series of foil-assisted catamarans, was built at
the Kanagawa Works and delivered to Fuke
Kaiun Co., Ltd. of Osaka. The 103-foot hybrid
ship has twin hulls which provide buoyancy,
assisted by submerged hydrofoils fore and aft
providing lift for a maximum speed of 40 knots.
At 32 feet wide, it has a capacity of 160 passen-
gers.
Hitachi Zosen is currently working on six
other Superjet-30s at its Kanagawa Works, and
expects more orders for this type of vessel.
Hitachi Zosen's Ariake Works delivered two
VLCCs recently: the 275,546-dwt (metric) Sea
Princess, 1,070 feet long with a breadth of 185.7
feet and a depth of approximately 94 feet, was
delivered to Laredo Shipping Co., Ltd., and the
280,954-dwt (metric) Tarim, 1,076 feet long with
a 187-foot breadth and a 98.4-foot depth, was
delivered to Wiltank I SK.
The Tarim, one of two VLCCs recently delivered by Hitachi Zosen.
The Sea Princess' engine is a low-speed, long-
stroke, static-pressure supercharged Hitachi
Zosen B&W 6S80MC, reportedly easy on fuel
with a speed of 14 knots. The Tarim's engine is
a similar model HZ B&W 7S80MC that gives the
Tarim a 15-knot speed. Both vessels have large
bulbous bows below the waterline for more effi-
cient propulsion, and both have cargo oil lines of
coated steel for high corrosion resistance and
which allow for loading three grades of crude.
Hitachi Zosen also delivered the Gortys, a
71,504-dwt (metric) bulk carrier — the 71st
Panamax Optima vessel produced by the com-
pany —from its Maizuru Works to the Sumitomo
Corp. At 705 feet long, it has a breadth of
approximately 105 feet and a 61-foot depth. The
vessel can carry a variety of cargoes, including
grain, ore and coal, and its HZ B&W 6S60MCE
engine provides fuel economy and speeds in
excess of 16 knots.
For more information on Hitachi Zosen,
Circle 276 on Reader Service Card
December, 1993 67
Digital Wave Publishing