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Investment in Design GL: An Undiluted Brand With a buoyant orderbook and solid medium-term prospects favoring the classification society's recent decision to maintain its independence, Germanisch- er Lloyd has embarked on a new course of business development characterized by closer customer focus. Rationalization of the organization and an intensification of sales and mar- keting activities are tenets of the approach. A continuing, substantial commitment to research and develop- ment is regarded as pivotal to ensuring the technological strengths widely per- ceived as synonymous with the GL ally be subsumed within DNV, contrary 'brand'. to the original strategy of collaboration After several months of deliberations, within an operating framework of GL and Det Norske Veritas terminated retained, distinct identities. Following discussions aimed at far-reaching coop- the slide in GL-classed newbuild deliv- eration in maritime activities. During eries in 1999 to 1.9 million gt from a the latter stages of the talks, the German level of about 3 million gt in 1998, the society had feared that it might eventu- current year will reflect a huge recovery in activity implicit in the handover of a total of some 4 million gt of new ton- nage built to the society's class require- ments. Over the course of 2000, the Ham- burg-based undertaking has expanded its market leadership in the container vessel category, equating to a 52 percent stake of the current orderbook, and also moved into the top slot in the field of multipurpose cargo vessels, with a 37 percent share of the newbuild classifica- tion workload. At the time of writing, the society ranked fourth in the global league in terms of its penetration of the world orderbook, accounting for 14 per- cent of the 67 million gt global tally. From a maritime perspective, one of the most significant aspects of GL has been its concentration on its core activi- ties over a period that has seen substan- tial industrial and business diversifica- tion by other classification societies. Around 75 percent of its revenue is derived from the maritime sector, a largely unchanged proportion relative to the picture 10 years ago. Against a backcloth of increased operations, new dimension is being given to the techno- logical base through project leadership of a five-year research effort with the acronym WIPS, translated as 'Competi- tive advantage through information technology-supported product simula- tion in shipbuilding'. Drawing in a range of companies and universities besides GL and its specialist areas of know-how, WIPS is addressing the growing capabilities for pre-calculating the performance characteristics of ships and plant, on the one hand, and the increasing IT requirements resulting from concurrent design and construc- tion, on the other. CP Ships Commissions Newbuilds For South America CP Ships has taken the next step in its major fleet retonnaging program by signing a contract with China Shipbuild- ing Corp. of Taiwan for the construction of five geared 3,200 teu containerships. They are designed to be employed in CP Ships' South American services. Delivery of the newbuildings will take place between mid-2002 and early 2003. Measuring 797 x 105 fit. (243 x 32.2 m), the vessels will be equipped with 400 reefer plugs and operate at a service speed of 22.5 knots. YouUBe Hard- Large or small, floating or fixed, Seaward SEA GUARD® fenders cover you from the tropics to the arctic. Seaward International brings to fend- er technology the same rigorous quality control and attention to detail we put into all our marine products. From the 2'x4' to the tanker- scaled 12'x24', all our fenders meet the most stringent quality and performance standards. The SEA GUARD fender combines quality assurance standards with new elastomer technologies such as a reinforced skin, making it the answer to most fender system requirements. The first of its kind 20 years ago, the Seaward foam-filled fender maintains its record of relia- bility. And we continue to develop and supply the protective marine technologies that keep you on course. All our products tell the same story: Seaward is committed to safeguarding your peace of mind. Structures, ships, environments, budgets: We protect it all. 3470 Martinsburg Pike, P.O. Box 98, Clearbrook, VA 22624-0098 USA 1-800-828-5360 • 540-667-5191 Fax: 540-667-7987 www.seaward.com SEA GUARD® Is a registered trademark of the Chem Ray-SEAGUARD Corporation. Used under license by SEAWARD International, Inc. 10 Circle 261 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
