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NOTABLE CONVERSIONS OF 1985 A review of some of the oceangoing vessels that were converted during the past year for military and commercial applications. ANTARES Avondale Shipyards The USNS Antares, redelivered this year by Avondale Shipyards, Inc., was the first of three Fast Sea- lift Ships being converted by the Louisiana yard for the U.S. Navy from Sea-Land's SL-7 container- ships. These vessels will provide for the rapid deployment of heavy mechanized Army combat and sup- port equipment and supplies, as well as providing lift capability for unit equipment and supplies of the Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the Navy. The Antares has an overall length of 944 feet, beam of 105 feet 6 inches, and a displacement of 55,372 long tons. Main propulsion is pro- vided by a twin-screw steam turbine plant with a total of 120,000 shp. The ship's capabilities include 33- knot service speed, RO/RO han- dling of cargo at pierside and while anchored, and self-sustaining lift- on/lift-off for vehicles and helicop- ters. She is able to land helicopters and load a mixture of tanks, heli- copters, wheeled vehicles, and con- tainerized or palletized cargo. Highly Efficient Shaft Generator with Innovative ED-Drive from IHI STEAM TURBINE DIFFERENTIAL EPICYCLE GEARS PLANET HYDRAULIC MOTOR POWER TAKE-OFF GEARS ^m mm mm mm mm • •• •• mm mm • The ED-Drive (Electronic Differential Epicycle Drive) connects the shaft generator to the main engine through power take-off gears and keeps the generator frequency constant. The differential epicycle gear controls the speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft by changing the rotational speed and direction of annulus gear. eatures Wide operational range effective between 50%—90% MCR of main engine load Accurate frequency control by micro-computerized speed control system Non-slip speed control for improved transmission efficiency Compact design for easy installation Additional fuel savings possible when coupled with IHI's SSG system IHI Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., ltd. Shipbuilding & Offshore HEAD OFFICE ANNEX: Tokyo Chuo Bldg. 6-2, 1-chome. Marunouchi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100, JAPAN Tel: Tokyo 03-286-2325 Telex: 24104 (IHISEN J) Circle 135 on Reader Service Card USNS Antares—Avondale The conversion of the Antares included the modification of exist- ing container storage areas to pro- vide various new decks including a flight deck, the installation of Hag- glunds 35-ton and 50-ton twin cranes, and the installation of two sideports and various platforms and ramps to support RO/RO loading and unloading. All of the cargo ac- cess equipment was supplied by MacGregor-Navire. Avondale utilized state-of-the-art techniques for zone outfitting in the conversion effort. Structural mod- ules were outfitted with pipe, duct- work, electrical wireways, and other equipment prior to being erected at the building site. BENWALID Meyer Werft The Papenburg, West Germany shipyard of Meyer Werft has rede- livered the Benwalid, converted into a combination sheep/cow carrier from the former containership Ville D'Orient. The converted vessel was turned over to the Turkish-Libyan Joint Maritime Transport Company of Istanbul, which has chartered the ship from the principals, Islamic Development Bank of Jeddah, Sau- di Arabia. For the owner, this con- version is the first venture into the livestock carrying trade. The Benwalid has an overall length of 378.3 feet and beam of 51 feet, and was converted for world- wide trade in compliance with the Australian Department of Trade regulations. She is capable of load- ing 21,300 sheep (at 110 pounds each) in 12 tiers, or 2,100 cows (at 992 pounds each) in six tiers below deck and on deck. Main propulsion is by a Crossley/Pielstick diesel en- gine. The ship has been fitted with exchangeable aluminum deck pal- lets for sheep, for which Meyer Werft holds a patent. These pallets enable the ship to be re-equipped for the carriage of cows within one day. All steel decks are provided with a non-skid coating. All the systems for the transport of livestock were developed by the shipyard, improved and optimized over many years of experience with this type of conversion. Major in- stallations include the fodder sup- ply system, fodder and drinking ves- sels of aluminum, dung removal sys- tems, and the ventilation system. All the cow and sheep ports of the pens are made of seawater- and ammonia-resistant aluminum; for all other equipment, galvanized ma- terial was used. To provide for the extra crew members required for the transport of livestock, the living quarters were expanded to accommodate 40 in- stead of 24 personnel. Two new suit- able sized lifeboats were installed aboard the ship. DENEBOLA Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Another of the U.S. Navy's T- AKR Class of fast supply ships, the Benwalid—Meyer Werft iwfijUSMt' * 44 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
