View non-flash version
Far East Update P&O Looks For A Containership By Alan Thorpe, international editor The P&O Containers' newbuild- ing saga continues with the compa- ny currently denying rumors that ifil's Kure shipyard has emerged as its favorite for the contract involving two ships of approxi- mately 6,000+ TEU each. No news has emerged from the owner as to how many ships the order will finally comprise; but many believe it will be for as many as six ships. This will no doubt revive the race for the largest containerships, as illustrated by recent orders being confirmed at much higher capaci- ties than originally ordered. For example, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) increased the capacity of its ships from 5,046 to 5,551 TEU during the building pro- ject; and AP Moller increased its capacity from 4,800 to 6,000 TEU during the same period. Meanwhile, Dutch boxship opera- tor Nedlloyd has completed a two- ship deal with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) involving a design of 4,850-TEU container- ships. Japan's yearly figures reveal that 398 vessels were ordered from overseas owners during FY '95 on March 31, although only four tankers of VLCC size were among these international orders, compared with 11 the previous year. The largest category was bulk- ers, with some 186 being ordered. However, these fig- ures do not take into consideration domestic orders. Norway's Statoil, the country's state-owned oil company, is rumored to be looking to increase its order for 100,000-dwt shuttle tankers from two to three ships. Two $100-million units have already been confirmed at South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). Another tanker owner reportedly looking to increase its order is Cyprus-based Klaus A rig conversion at FELS Oldendorff, which has exercised an option for a third 105,000-dwt tanker from Halla Engineering & Heavy Industries (HEHI), with the first two ships ordered this January. Another South Korean shipyard busy on the export market is Hanjin Heavy Industries Co. (HHIC), which has won a $180-mil- lion order from Germany's Hansa Treuhand for two 1,600-TEU con- tainerships, with an option for another four sisterships. What is thought to be an order for the largest bulk carriers currently on the world's shipbuilding orderbook is set to be placed with South Korea's Daewoo Heavy Industries (DHI), with Germ- any's Krupp looking for two 320,000-dwt ore carriers. The Chinese ship- building industry took another step forward in April with an order from Canada's CSL group for a 71,000-dwt, self-unloading bulk carrier. Meanwhile, China's Qui Xin ship- yard has increased its international orderbook with an 8,000-dwt tanker from Norway's Stenersen, which will be chartered to Norske Hydro. This shipyard is currently building four coastal tankers for P&O Tankships. Another Chinese yard doing well on the international market is Jinling Shipyard, which has won an $85-million order from Singapore's Steamers Maritime, part of the Keppel group, for a series of six small container feeder ships. On the Far East conversion mar- ket, the latest contract has been won by Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard, which has been awarded a $20-million conversion contract to convert 136,960-dwt tanker Tantawan Explorer (ex-Bayern) into an FPSO. Owned by Single Buoy Moorings (SBM), Monte Carlo, work on Tantawan will involve the installation of an IMODCO-designed, single point mooring turret (SPT) system, which will allow the vessel to weathervane freely in order to take up the position of least resistance to winds. Both upper and lower collars and columns will be installed for turret integration. The process decks also call for installation of process modules and facilities. A substantial amount of steel- work — around 1,200 tons — will be carried out in the installation of a helideck, process deck support structures, equipment supports and tandem offloading station. In compliance with international safety standards and regulations, the fire fighting system and life- saving equipment will be upgrad- ed, including fire and gas detection systems. Additionally, modifica- tion and upgrades will be carried VLCC repair at Malaysia Shipyard & Engineering Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
