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mous with technically-demand- ing ship conversion and rebuild projects, the INMA establish- ment at La Spezia has fostered a change of emphasis in recent years by devoting more of its Passenger vessel Carina recently stopped in the Arsenale Venezia repair yard for work. The resources to the field of special- 7,127-gt ship was built in 1977. Bon FINCANTIERI IS BUILDING FOR THE SEA Advanced design and production technologies, and a more than two centuries' long tradition behind: Fincantieri is the heir to the Italian oldest and most illustrious companies in the field, and has thus been able of consolidating and continuously updating a unique wealth of experience through the construction of more than 7,000 vessels. Fincantieri, which is today the largest shipbuilding group in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in Europe, is capable of giving innovative and customer-tailored answers to all the needs of those who work for the sea: Merchant vessels of all types, shipconversions, floating offshore units, naval vessels and submarines, large and medium size diesel engines. MORE THAN 7000 SHIPS OVER TWO CENTURIES Circle 249 on Reader Service Card ized newbuilding construction. The result is a 70 percent weight- ing to shipbuilding, a policy of cooperation with like-minded yards offering complementary skills and capacity, and an ever- more selective approach to conver- sion and repair work. The recent refit and modification of French-owned seismic research vessel Fohn confirmed the compa- ny's skills in reconstruction and engineering-intensive projects. But the building of a series of high- ly sophisticated, intra-regional chemical tankers underlines its increased commitment to the new- building market. This is also expressed in the scheduled arrival at the yard later this year of a Tirrenia RoRo passenger ferry — now approaching the launch stage at nearby Cantiere Navale Ferrari — for outfitting and completion. The first of three 5,400-cu-m, stainless steel chemical tankers booked at the yard to the account of Stolt Finanzia Marittima is due to be delivered toward the end of 1997, for operation with Stolt Parcel Tankers. A contract for a fourth vessel is reportedly being negotiated, as the Stolt-Nielsen Group originally expressed interest in a series of six. The class, conceived for efficient operation and minimum mainte- nance over a working life of at least 25 years, is distinguished both by a high degree of compart- mentalization into 16 stainless tanks, and by the adoption of a diesel-electric power and propul- sion system. Employing four Wartsila medium-speed, engine- based gensets developing a total 3,600 kW, the arrangements confer a high degree of operating flexibil- ity and economy through the quickly-changing power load pro- file characteristic of short sea trad- ing, with its rapidly alternating seagoing, maneuvering and cargo handling modes. Playing to its strengths in another area of spe- cialized tanker construction, the yard also has a fourth example of a versatile class of 7,350-cu-m LPG/ethylene carrier on order for delivery toward the end of 1998. As a consequence of the collabo- ration forged with another yard in La Spezia, Cantiere Navale Ferrari, INMA is due to receive the first of two Tirrenia coastal ferries in September for outfitting, in its capacity as project coordinator for 52 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
