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Investment in Design vessel series entrusted to a Portuguese shipbuilder. Trieste is currently operating at an out- put level in the region of 500-750 MW per annum, and is a showcase for the Wartsila Flexible Manufacturing Sys- tem, the production model which has evolved out of the company's 'focused factory' concept. The Italian plant creat- ed something of the template for the new system, whereby nominated back- up factories support each product-spe- cific factory for engine assembly and component manufacture. Its role in meeting the surging demand for Wart- sila 46 medium-speed engines, for which the Turku plant in Finland is the lead producer, is illustrative of the arrangements. The enduring popularity of the Sulzer ZA40S four-stroke series is clearly in evidence at Trieste, where it contributes substantially to the delivery program through to 2004. The Italian works is also the nominated factory for the Wart- sila 26X, aimed at high-speed trans- portation and naval applications, and for the mighty 64-type four-stroke, the world's most powerful medium-speed diesel, delivering a staggering 2 MW per cylinder. Commencing with the 13,645-dwt German vessel Container- ships VI, commissioned in 1999, a total 11 engines of the Wartsila 64 type have now been supplied for marine propul- sion. At press time, the Finnish engine group was hoping that the design would be nominated for an Italian tanker new- build project, to set a major new phase of diesel production in train at Trieste. While the largest modern-day diesel, which the plant is currently geared up to produce is the RTA84C in its eight- cylinder configuration, the Italian facto- ry has the distinction of having pro- duced the world's biggest diesel engine as measured by bore size. The record was set in 1972 with the delivery of a Fiat two-stroke unit with a bore of 1,060-mm. By comparison, the largest, albeit considerably more powerful, engines now available are of 960 mm and 980 mm-bore, turned out in the Far East under license from Wartsila and MAN B&W, respectively. Dolphin Finds A Home A growing appreciation of the benefits of podded electric propulsion is widen- ing the concept's market reach, although business for such systems has remained concentrated among just a handful of suppliers. The recent deal for the Dol- phin system, while denoting the com- mercial breakthrough for the alliance between STN Atlas Marine Electronics March , 2001 of Germany and John Crane-Lips of the UK, also expresses the market's recep- tivity to a further option and additional player. Two Dolphin propulsors have been ordered for Radisson Seven Seas' 48,000-gt diesel-electric cruise liner under construction at Mariotti's premis- es in Genoa harbor. STN Atlas Marine's prowess in electri- cal engineering melded with John Crane-Lips' Dutch-honed skills in pro- pellers, thrusters and hydrodynamics has resulted in a pod line covering units powers between 3-MW and more than 19-MW. The prestigious, milestone cruise ship application calls for a pair of outboard, podded drives delivering 7,000-kW apiece at 170 rpm. Radisson Seven Seas earlier demon- strated its belief in the design and oper- Circle 212 on Reader Service Card Powerful Solutions For Welding And Cutting Automation Mechanizing Your Welding And Cutting Applications Can Save You Money! Bug-0 Systems has been showing manufactur- ers how to automate their welding applications for more than 50 years. We would be happy to discuss any applications you have in mind. If you have any questions or applications you'd like to discuss, call 1-800-245-3186 ext. 55. Bug-0 Systems 3001 West Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA USA15204-1899 Phone: 1-412-331-1776 Fax: 1-412-331-0383 http://www.bugo.com <=x C€ Affordable Automation for Welding, Cutting and Semi-Automatic Processes Circle 227 on Reader Service Card March, 2001 www.maritimetoday.com 11 Pneumatic Fenders DockFenders Ship Fenders Engineered & Manufactured by: Distributed in the Americas by: DOLPHIN RUBBER FENDERS ALL TYPES / ALL APPLICATIONS KUMNAM CHEMICAL, INC. DOLPHIN INTERNATIONAL, CO. 348-3, Chung Chun-Ri, Chillye- Myun 881 SW 59th Avenue Kimhae, Kyungnam, Korea Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33317 Tel: 82 (55) 346-3313 Tel: (954) 581-4858 Fax: (954) 581-9892 Fax: 82 ( 55) 346-3137 E-mail: Shipnshore@att.net www.dolphinfenders.net