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Seven orders for OPVs Work is accelerating at the French yards of Leroux et Lotz as the company announces that no fewer than seven orders for its latest design OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) are in hand. This year the group, which comprises family-owned yards at Dieppe, Lorient, St. Malo and Nantes, is scheduled to deliver two of a three OPV 54 vessel order for its home navy and to commence deliv- ery of four OPV 64s for the Royal Moroccan Navy which will be delivered at intervals between 1995 and 1997. Additionally, military department manager Gerard de la Cochetiere confirms that two additional OPV 54s are to be built at the CMN yard, again for the French Navy. Approval of the design has been swift indeed as all of these orders come with only one actually having been built and delivered to Mauritania last year. But Leroux et Lotz attributes much of the success to its 30 year long cooperation with French Naval State Shipyards (DCN) on various projects for submarines, frigates, corvettes and aircraft carriers. Nonetheless, it is immediately apparent that, in keeping with trends through- out Europe's naval yards, the OPV range has been developed with two notable bonus factors: a competitive price tag and a multi-role capability. Available in three lengths —177 ft. (54 m), 210 ft. (64 m) and 259 ft. (79 m) — each is suited to principal duties of general surveillance (200 nm range/20 days duration) and interception tasks, but can also be used for firefighting, pollution control and inter-island transportation. With steel hulls and light aluminum alloy superstruc- tures, vessels are capable of speeds from 22-27 knots depending on propulsion system. The French Navy has opted for a CODAD arrange- ment comprising two 3,000-hp MWM 620-16s and twin 1,000-hp MWM TBD 234-12 Vs for 22 knots while Morocco, for its larger OPV 64s, has selected twin Wartsila Nohab 16V 25s, each at 5,200 hp, and two slow electric engines for a maximum speed of 22 knots and 6-8 knots loiter capability. SKB buys Beliard Polyship Belgian yard Beliard Polyship, threatened by closure during the latter part of 1994, is to commence building activities again in April following a rescue buy-out by fellow Belgian, SKB. Leopold Longeville is managing director of the new company, which has been renamed SKB Polyship. He explained: "We will receive a most significant and vital start having been selected by the Belgian government to design and construct four of a new generation of coastal mine- sweepers for the Belgian Navy." Such news is, in fact, confirmation of an oft repeated rumor that the navy in- tended to place its order with Polyship — although this was insufficient at the time for its owners, the private company Mercantile-Beliard, to consider keeping the yard and its workforce of 200 going. Naval orders are not new, as the yard was instrumental in the development of the Tripartite class of minehunter, so named because of the three-way involvement of France, Holland and Belgium, ten of which were built by Polyship and are currently in service with the Belgian Navy. Mackay COMMUNICATIONS WELD COAMINGS QUICKLY, EASILY, AND ECONOMICALLY For more information call: BUG-0 SYSTEMS (412) 331-1776 Ext. 55 Fax: (412) 331-0383 UNI-BUG THE UNIVERSAL™ BUG-O® Circle 219 on Reader Service Card April, 1995 For further information, contort Mackay Communications 300 Columbus Circle, Edison, New Jersey 08837 Tel.: (908) 225-0909 Fox: (908) 225-2848 Uti^f ' vi' Mobile Communications COMSAT'S Mobile Link"" service uses Land Earth Station code 001 and provides a global link to the Inmarsat satellite system and offers the advantage of voice, fax and data communications that are virtually the same as those in the office or home. Call COMSAT at 1-301-428-2379 for information. Circle 271 on Reader Service Card 89 CONTROL UNIT FOR BULKHEAD OR DESK TOP MOUNTING WITH: • 5 RJ-11 Jacks for remote telephones • G3 Fax and PABX Interfaces • RS-232/V.35 modem interfaces • Telex printer output line • HSD 56/64 KBPS option HANDSET CONTROLLER WITH DUAL KEYPADS FOR: • LES default programming • Short number dialing • Readout of status records • Antenna Controller • Test diagnostics SYSTEM OPERATION FROM A VARIETY OF A.C. AND D.C. VOLTAGES ALL DIGITAL INMARSAT SATURN B TERMINAL FOR CLASS I/II VOICE, TELEFAX, AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS The patented design of the UNI-BUG enables it to run directly on the workpiece without a track. The UNI-BUG is light- weight and compact 8 lbs. (3.6 kg); you can carry it anywhere with ease. Because of it's small size the UNI-BUG will fit into tight areas where space is a problem. The UNI-BUG will run from a straight down to a 6" (153 mm) radius inside or out. The machine follows the shape of the workpiece and can run in a wide variety of positions. The UNI-BUG is a versatile machine that can be adapted for an infinite number of applications.
