Maritime Reporter, August 2006

<BODY> <div> August 2006 33 VT Halter Marine Makes Strides on High-Tech NOAA Vessels VT Halter Marine has had success in building a series of new fisheries survey vessels for NOAA. Not only must the ships withstand the rigors of sea duty, they feature a number of technological advances that enable the ships to carry out exacting scientific studies in an effi- cient manner. Recently, a traditional keel laying ceremony was held for NOAA ship Pisces, preceded by the ini- tial cutting of steel for the fourth and final vessel in the series. These sister ships will join NOAA ships Oscar Dyson and Henry B. Bigelow, which were also built by VT Halter Marine. "With this new class of vessel, NOAA is increasing the efficiency of its fish- eries research with state-of-the art tech- nology. These ships are so quiet, for example, that we expect scientists to be able to study fish and marine mammals with little impact on their behavior," said Rear Admiral Samuel P. De Bow Jr., NOAA, who is director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The 208-ft. ships are being built to meet the requirements of NOAA Fisheries Service as well as the acoustic quieting standards set by the International Council for Exploration of the Seas. Main Particulars Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NOAA Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fisheries Survey Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208 ft. (63.6 m) Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 ft. (15 m) Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 ft. (8.65 m) Maximum Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 ft. (5.9 m) Main engine . . . . . . . . .DHT 900 Z73 FD4 SCO/60H Manufacturer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ansaldo/Siemens HP@RPM . . . . . . .3,016 HP/ 2,250 KW @ 134 RPM Ship's Service Power .2x Caterpillar 3512/ Two 3508 KW . . . . . . . . . . .Two @ 1,360 KW/ Two @ 910 KW Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rolls Royce Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NAB Steering System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rolls Royce Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Knots Hull Construction . .Steel Hull/ Aluminum Deckhouse Crew Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Seacoast Electronics Tankage (Gallons) . . . . . .Fuel - 350 MT Ballast - 375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MTFresh Water - 36 MT Classification / Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ABS Delivery Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January 2008 Trawling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rapp Hydema Stern Gantry and Side Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Huber Centerboard Handling System . . . . .National Oilwell Bowthruster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elliot White Gill SHI Delivers World's Largerst Containership What is reported to be the world's largest containership, Xin Los Angeles, has been delivered by Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd. (SHI) to Lloyd's Register class. The ship is owned by China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and is operated by China International Shipmanagement Company Ltd., a joint venture between CSCL and V.Ships. The ship is 9,600 teu and is the first in a series of eight being built by SHI. The ship will trade from China to Europe initially and will even- tually also trade to the U.S. Xin Los Angeles can carry a maximum of 18 rows of containers by eight tiers on the weather deck and 16 rows by 10 tiers in the holds. The ship measures 336.7 x 45.6 m with a 15-m draft, and is pow- ered by an MAN B&W 12K98MC-C Mk6, which produces 68,520 kW. During sea trials the ship achieved a bal- last service speed of 25.4 knots. The ship is also enrolled in LR's Ship Emergency Response Service (SERS). Shipbuilding Technology MR AUGUST2006 #5 (33-40).qxd 8/2/2006 5:58 PM Page 33 </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>