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EUROPEAN UPDATE by Carol Fulford and Andy Smith, contributing editors Building started on multi-role icebreaker When Rieber Shipping A/S of Bergen, Norway announces that it is having a new ship built, the ma- rine world tends to take notice. Its last newbuild, commissioned in 1990, was the M/V Polar Circle, an innovative combined Antarctic re- search and educational cruise ves- sel that generated great interest from the industry. Among many noteworthy features, it was fitted with reportedly the first commer- cial application of a full ECDIS sys- tem. Patently of immense versatil- ity, Polar Circle was soon chartered and then purchased by the British Royal Navy and quickly renamed HMS Endurance as the long over- due replacement to a famous prede- cessor. The company's latest project, an 262.5-ft. (80-m) icebreaker cur- rently under construction at Kvaerner Eleven Leirvik, also in Norway, is certain to be studied closely as the multi-role concept is advanced even further. Rieber's existing fleet comprises a number of high ice class seismic exploration ships and four icebreaking research and expedi- tion vessels which have extended experience in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Several of the company's vessels have been extensively in- volved in the Canadian High Arctic (Rieber has a branch office in New- foundland) and M/V Polar Duke has been trading continuously, summer and winter since 1984, from Punta Arenas to the Antarctic Peninsula for the U.S. Scientific Mission. In order to utilize some of these vessels during the off-season they have also been equipped with maneuvering, navigation and handling equipment so that they are able to operate effec- tively as offshore survey and ROV support vessels. It is against this background that the Rieber in-house design team developed the new ves- sel. Nevertheless, according to Man- aging Director Sven Rong, the de- cision to build a vessel capable of fulfilling a wide spectrum of roles was not just taken to attract a broader range of potential charter custom- ers. Many leading research institu- tions, with which the company is closely associated, face ever more restricted budgets and high vessel operating costs. This knowledge led to the conclusion that a significant under deck carrying capacity to- gether with deck container fittings on a vessel equipped with oceano- graphic, hydrographic and geophysi- cal research facilities would provide them with a cost effective solution — the same vessel could keep the Multi-role icebreaking support vessel being built for Rieber Shipping A/S. Marine^Specialist R CONDITIONING TNG •VENTILATION »PL UMBING • SMOKE REH i —- Bill Brown • ENTERPRISES. INC. • 4995 Ocean Pines • Berlin, Maryland 21811-(410) 641-5782 • Fax: (410) 641-6283 CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES >-221-1506 Circle 208 on Reader Service Card DEMOLITION/CASUALTIES ship Sales "As is/Where is"; Delivered! ship Purchase over 100 Vessels in the last 20 months! Scrappins Negotiate under P&C terms expeditiously! Brokers Always Welcome! Cash Buyers! Delivery to the Far East: India, Bangladesh, Chittagong WIRANA USA LTD. Offices: Singapore/Australia/Myanmar/Bangladesh/lndia/USA Phone: 305-233-5775 (24 hrs.) Contact: Harry Blustein Fax: 305-233-5586 REFINE YOUR OIL WHILE YOU DRIVE AND SAVE BIG SSS TF PURIFINER ™ REFINERY ON THE SEA Refine your oil while you drive and save big dollars ... maintenance, engine wear, oil, fuel, disposal costs. The TF Purifiner filters trap solid contaminants down to one micron in size. The patented heated evaporation chamber removes water, fuel, coolant, and leaves your oil as pure as the day It was installed. Yet valuable oil additives are left in and viscosity remains constant. There's a TF Purifiner for every application: • Tugboats • Dredges • Cruise Ships • Water Taxis • Fishing Vessels • Oil Platforms (from the family car to the biggest yacht) Over the past 10 years, users report hundred of thousands of hours without an oil change, and their oil is still as good as new. Every TF Purifiner is backed by an iron-clad 10- year quality warranty, and is USCG approved. Letters from Engine Manufacturers state the use of TF Purifiner will not void the engine manufacturer's warranty. Distributor Inquiries Welcome! TF PURIFINER, INC. 3020 High Ridge Road, Suite 100 Boynton Beach, FL 33426 407-547-9499 1-800-488-0577 407-547-4025 (Fax) ON-BOARD OIL REFINER Exclusive worldwide manufacturers and distributors Circle 271 on Reader Service Card Circle 258 on Reader Service Card
