Page 31: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1996)

EUROPEAN UPDATE

Operations Director Ken MacDonald. "At the time of placing the original order for Stirling

Clyde at Fergusons to meet the requirements of a newly won contract with Shell, there was an option for a second vessel. "However, we were so certain that Shell's design was destined to become the industry standard for North Sea operations that we immediately decided to proceed with a second, speculative ship; but to satisfy our required delivery date, the order had to be transferred to

Govan," he advised. "Our confidence in this size of ship has been confirmed, not only by its immediate five-year charter to Shell, but the large number of very similar vessels now being built in Norway with an identical concept."

The company is quick to point out that

Stirling Forth and Stirling Clyde are the first with a number of special safety features to work in the region.

Developed by their own personnel in associa- tion with naval architects Vik & Sandvik, these include a continuous safehaven arrangement providing the crew with easy, quick and safe protection from cargo, a 1,200-hp, independent- ly-driven azimuthing thruster providing, among other things, a 6.5-knot capability and four Jason ladders. In addition, the vessel retains full control of all thrusters and pro- pellers in the event of a blackout, and the bridge has an unobstructed view of 100 percent of the cargo deck.

In the light of these safety features, it is no surprise that the company has been awarded a

Document of Compliance with the ISM Code from the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) under authority of the U.K. government.. Stirling is the first manager of offshore supply vessels to achieve certification and, moreover, a full six years in advance of the statutory implementa- tion date.

In accepting the award, Ken MacDonald commented: "Safety enhancement is, however, a process of continual improvement. We will continue to pursue safety initiatives through- out the fleet on a broad front."

International focus for FBM designs

U.K. fast ferry expert FBM Marine of Cowes,

Isle of Wight, has awarded that a new U.S. facility, Pequot River Shipworks in

Connecticut, an exclusive license to build seven types of FBM craft for the North American mar- ket. The contract revolves largely around the right to build the proven TriCat trimaran, the star vessel in the yard's portfolio.

In the Far East, further orders have been placed by FBM's parent company in Hong Kong for TriCats. Portuguese ferry operator

Transtejo has confirmed a contract for two fur- ther 147.6-ft. (45-m) catamarans, and an inter- esting refit for three riverbuses, once used on the Thames, is under way for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD). The latter has also accepted an innovative FBM designed 75.4-ft. (23-m) passenger-transfer SWATH craft.

When Tribal Chairman Richard Hayward and leading dignitaries from the Mashantucket

Pequot tribal nation visited FBM's Isle of Wight facility to examine the first completed TriCat years back, the entourage caused quite a stir.

Convinced that the vessel could prove ideal for ferrying passengers to and from the tribe's resort casino at Foxwoods, Conn., Mr.

Hayward initiated discussions with a view toward building vessels in the U.S. for use in connection with the resort, and also for sale.

The sleek, futuristic shape of the TriCat, cou- pled with economic operating costs and speeds which would optimize the time passengers could spend gambling at the casinos were major attractions.

Plans were realized when the tribe purchased a facility on Eastern Avenue; a former steel fab- rication plant that once manufactured parts for the Navy's Trident submarine program. Many of the employees including some ex-manage- ment were re-employed to work in the ferry pro-

ASTANO ASTANDER CADIZ

P.O. BOX 994 15080 Ferrol

La Coruna - Spain

Tel. (3481) 34 3211

Fax (3481) 34 3252

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Cantabria - Spain

Tel. (3442) 54 0050

Fax (3442) 54 0026

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Spain

Tel. (3456) 27 3350

Fax (3456) 27 8362

ASTILLEROS ESPMOLES

November, 1996 Circle 210 on Reader Service Card 33