Page 11: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 1990)

Astano shipyard, El Ferrol (La

Coruna), Spain, recently end- launched the semisubmersible drill- ing rig Drillmar I into Ferrol Bay.

The launching was unusual in that the unit was structurally complete with each lower hull resting on a separate slipway. The launching weight of 10,728 long tons included approximately 9,300 tons of steel and 1,400 tons of equipment. There remains approximately 2,600 tons of outfitting to be done at dockside before the unit is delivered to Drill- mar in the second half of 1990.

The 270-foot-long by 203-foot- wide Drillmar I is a Friede & Gold- man, Ltd.-designed Enhanced Pace- setter Semisubmersible. The twin- hull six-caisson semi is capable of drilling to 25,000 feet as a thruster- assisted moored unit in water depths up to 1,500 feet.

The launching also marked the first entry for the Astano shipyard into the offshore market. Previously noted for its ability to produce su- pertankers, the Drillmar I repre- sents Astano's changing emphasis away from ship construction and into offshore production. It also was the first time Astano had launched any structure from its two parallel slipways simultaneously. Careful calculations and model testing along with a strong lower hull design helped ensure the successful launch with a minimum (less than 2 tons) of structural reinforcement in the lower hulls.

For free color literature detailing the shipbuilding and ship-repairing services of the shipyards of AESA,

Circle 98 on Reader Service Card

Fincantieri Prepares

P&O's Crown Princess

For Delivery

In Italy, the Monfalcone shipyard of Fincantieri Cantieri Navali

Italiani is preparing to deliver the new 70,000-grt giant luxury liner

Crown Princess to Princess Cruises, an associate of P&O Cruises Ltd.

The Italian-flag passenger ship recently completed her preliminary sea trials in the Adriatic Sea. The 1,748-passenger Crown Princess is fitted with a diesel-electric propul- sion plant, which will feature four 14,400-bhp MAN B&W Diesel eight-cylinder L58/64 medium- speed engines driving a pair of pro- pulsion motors.

Fincantieri also is constructing a sister ship to the Crown Princess, the Regal Princess. She is expected to be launched shortly. Besides the two P&O cruise ships, the Italian shipbuilder also has contracts for two 1,600-passenger Costa Crociere liners and three 1,250-passenger

Holland America Line cruise ves- sels.

Fincantieri's Ship Repairs

Division, Genoa, has secured a contract from Italian owner NAV-

ARMA to perform a major refit on a passenger/car ferry. The contract calls for the addition of hoistable and permanent car decks to increase car capacity; the extension of the after part of the existing superstruc-

May, 1990 tures on the upper three decks; rebuilding of the accommodation area; and fitting of a new bulbous bow and new funnel.

After completion of the conver- sion by Fincantieri's OARN yard this spring, the Moby King (ex-

Skane, formerly owned by the

Swedish State Railway Company) will have a passenger capacity of 2,000 and car capacity of 700. She will enter service between the Ital- ian mainland and Corsica in the summer of 1990.

Other work being undertaken by

Fincantieri's Ship Repair Division in the passenger/car ferry sector in- cludes the refit of a total of 10 ves- sels, four of the Poeti Class and six of the Strade Consolari Class.

For further information on Fin- cantieri,

Circle 99 on Reader Service Card 3. Maj Awarded

Contract To Build

Three Boxships

Rijeka, Yugoslavia-based 3. Maj

Shipbuilding was recently awarded a contract for the construc- tion of three 2,200-TEU container- continued) ... but where do you find ® • Sophisticated up to date vessels

IT W built by the people you can trust, the

I 0 people with a first-class reputation for: # design which meets your specific requirements # quality construction and, of course # delivery on schedule

Vessels to boost your profits.

Try

See us at Posidonia '90,

Piraeus, Greece, June 4-8

Stand No. 210, Level A

Shipbuilding Industry,

P.O. Box No. 117,51001 Rijeka, Yugoslavia. Telephone: 617-111.

Telex: YU 24-137,24-240,24-338. Telefax: 261 -053. Cable: 3.MAJ-RI JEKA. (A member of the Association of Shipbuilding Industry "JADRANBROD", Zagreb, Yugoslavia)

Our customers know why

Circle 236 on Reader Service Card 13