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First Of Modified Destroyers Commissioned Ties that bind Nearly a quarter-century on from landing an order for what proved to be one of the industry's most remarkable series of RoRo vessels, the Hyundai yard has struck a new deal with the Stena organization for RoPax tonnage. The 11 Searunner-class vessels commissioned out of Ulsan between 1977 and 1979 denoted a farsighted investment by the Swedish group. The entire series found ready employ in various European trades, and the flexibility of the design resulted in a range of subsequent enlargement and conversion schemes, which kept the vessels to the fore in various fields for many years. While the Searunner breed provided the South Korean ship- builder with an impressive, early reference in the RoRo domain, the latest contract award also has strategic significance for Hyundai in taking the yard into the buoy- ant RoPax sector. The order from Stena RoRo initially entails a vessel of some 2,400 lane-meters of RoRo capacity and incorporating accommodation for 900 passengers, due to be handed over in 2002. The agreement includes an option on a second-of-class. Stena is currently also sourcing RoRo tonnage in China, in the shape of a 12,300-dwt series from Dalian Shipyard. But the group's business links with Hyundai Heavy Industries are manifested not only in the new RoPax but also in a pair of innovative crude carriers under construction for the associated compa- ny Concordia Maritime. The V-Max class of twin-skeg, 314,500-dwt tankers is characterized by an exceptionally wide beam and shallow draft. It emphasizes the Swedish group's propensity for innovation and again demonstrates the South Kore- an yard's position in the vanguard of new ship design and engineering develop- ments. — David Tinsley B the first of the Arleigh Burke Flight 2A ' Aegis destroyers and the 17th Bath ^IH^^BmB Iron Works-built, was commissioned in Wfy** v | «- •H&WiB^ . i* ' jBb^ Norfolk Naval Station on Saturday ^jmffK/M Dianne Reason, wife of retired admi- Iti ftiff *fiT ^ fr J(|g ral Paul Reason, brought the ship to HFt« * • " TNLflif' a Wr. ^JTB life. Retired Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, father of Aegis, conducted the tradition of the passing of the Long glass to the first officer of the watch. The Flight 2A is a variant of the Burke class. It has full-up helo facilities, car- rying up to two SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. The destroyer's first commanding officer is Commander Paul C. Smith USN and Executive officer Lieutenant Com- mander Thomas F. Schwarz USN. This magnificent ship, the 56th Aegis com- batant, is named to honor marine Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin. Private first Class Austin was killed near Da Nang, South Vietnam on February 23, 1969, when he sacrificed his own life to save an injured companion. His act has been recognized with medals and decorations, which include the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Oscar Austin was born January 15, 1948 in Nacogdoches, Texas and was raised in Phoenix, Ariz., where he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in April of 1968. Six months later, he was promoted to Private First Class and was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as Ammunitions Officer with Company "E", Second Battalion, Seventh Marine, First Marine Division (Rein), FMF. During the early morning hours on February 23, Pfc. Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force using a heavy volume of hand-grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a posi- tion dangerously exposed to hostile fire, Pfc. Austin unhesitatingly left the securi- ty of his fighting hole, and with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and leaped between the injured marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effects of its deto- nation. Ignoring his own painful injuries, he turned to examine the wounded man and saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences, Pfc. Austin threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier. In doing so, he was mortal- ly wounded. Marine Artist and forensic author Peter K. Hsu created this special drawing, com- memorating Marine Private First Class Oscar Austin, Medal of Honor recipient. Well wishes to the men and women of the USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) — Fair Winds and following seas. GE Capital Invests In Rodriquez Cantieri Navali Spa Rodriquez Cantieri Navali SpA and GE Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Electric Group (GE), have entered into a partnership. Follow- ing several months of negotiations GE Capital underwrote an increase in the share capital of Rodriquez. GE Capital's shareholding in the Shipyard is in the range of 26 to 40 percent. Rodriquez Cantieri has also reached an agreement with Astilleros de Huelva for the licensed production of Rodriquez's TMV range of high-speed monohull ferries. With a capacity to build vessels up to 459 ft. (140 m), in one of three new- building berths, the yard is strategically located near the Straits of Gibraltar on Spain's southwest Atlantic coast. Shipyard Delivers "Winning" Vessels The Bolton Fire Department has received from Winninghoff the Response FR-9.2 — a 30 x 10 ft. (9.1 x 3 m) welded aluminum boat. The vessel, which was designed by Response Marine will be used on Lake George in upstate New York for fire/rescue fire ser- vice. Boasting E" dive/rescue facilities in addition to its 1,500-gpm fire fighting capacity, the vessel also houses a Volvo-powered, Hale 60FB fire pump and provides for three, 5-in. storz connections, as well as bow-mounted, Akron electric monitor. The fire/rescue boat is powered and maneuvered by twin 225-hp outboards for quick and safe response efforts. Circle 22 on Reader Service Card FirstWave/Newpark Awarded GLM Contract FirstWave/Newpark Shipbuilding has been awarded a contract from Global Marine Drilling Company of Houston, Texas for final commissioning of drilling equipment and other miscella- neous completion work on the newbuild drillship Glomar Jack Ryan. The vessel left builder Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ire- land, on August 20 and is scheduled to arrive at FirstWave's East Pelican Island Facility in Galveston early September. Chemoil Starts Supplying Fuel In Singapore Chemoil, which repotedly sells the most fuel in the ports of Los Angeles and New York, recently announced its entry into the Singapore market. Chemoil started supplying bunkers in Singapore at the beginning of August, 2000. In a customer appreciation move, and to encourage new customers, Chemoil is giving away prizes for three months, starting on September 1. Circle 174 on Reader Service Card
