Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1998)

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Astano Awarded Two

Offshore Contracts

Astano Astilleros Espanoles has been awarded a contract to build two ultradeep water dual drilling floating monohull units from

Transocean Offshore Inc. The units, Discoverer Spirit and

Discoverer Enterprise II, will be operated in the Gulf of Mexico by

Transocean for Unocal and

Chevron, respectively. Delivery dates are expected to be between 18-24 months. The Astano designed vessels are entirely based on Discoverer Enterprise and are 837 ft. (255 m) long, 125 ft. (38 m) in breadth with a crude oil storage capacity of 40,000 tons, equivalent to 200,000 bpd. They will provide a total variable deck load of 20,000 tons for the drilling equipment and topside modules. In addition to this, they will each carry twin- drilling, twin derricks and two complete drillstrings which were designed for depths up to 10,000 ft. (3,000 m). Each unit will accom- modate 200 people and will comply with U.S. Coast Guard Gulf of

Mexico regulations. Transocean ordered the unit to use its patent- ed drilling method called

Expedrill, which allows for simul- taneous, and differing, duties from each working drill without conta- mination, or interruption from stoppages.

Casino Vessel Delivered

The DeJong and Lebet, Inc.- designed 160 ft. x 65 ft.(50 x 20 m)

SWATH (small waterplane area twin-hull) casino vessel Suncruz

VI was completed at LeeVac

Shipyards, La. DeJong and Lebet have designed 13 other such

SWATH vessels to operate off of the coast of Florida. Currently under construction, at Keith

Marine for Bayfront Ventures, are a 116 ft. (36 m) aluminum casino vessel and a 200 ft. x 40 ft. (61 x 14 m) yacht-type vessel.

MC Shipping To Raise

Money, Buy Ships

MC Shipping Inc. reportedly plans to raise $100 million through a junk bond issue to fund further expansion into the gas carrier sec- tor. The company said it intended to use the proceeds to acquire five liquid petroleum gas (LPG) carri- ers and purchase the remaining 50 percent interest in two 1995-built

LPG carriers it already part owns.

Midland Marine Named

U.S. Agent For Astander

Astillero Astander, SA announced that it has chosen

Midland Marine Corporation as its executive agent in USA. Astander expects to be able to give more value to their services to the shiprepair industry with the appointment.

Holland America Orders

New Ship

Holland America Line (HAL), a unit of the Carnival Corporation, ordered a new 61,000-ton cruise ship from Fincantieri Shipyards,

Italy. HAL is currently operating at near capacity with eight cruise liners, but is prepared to raise its fleet to 11. The latest order will bring its fleet to 10 by the year 2000, and another new ship is expected to be ordered soon. The estimated value of this latest con- tract is $300 million. HAL's parent company, Carnival Corporation, has already spent $1.75 billion at

Fincantieri Shipyards, which has been responsible for the construc- tion of six Carnival vessels, plus the two more under contract (not including the latest contract).

PUSH-FIT pipe and drains help build your ship on time and under budget

Since the turn of the century, Welin Lambie remained synonymous with innovative davit systems for the ever changing, marine, offshore and military markets.

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Whether the requirement is for conventional davits or purpose built systems, Welin Lambie will remain at the forefront of davit technology.

Welin Lambie N.A. Inc. 18 Ridgecrest Drive, Bridgewater,

Nova Scotia, Canada B4V 3 V8

Telephone: (902) 543 4337 Telefax: (902) 543 9787

Email: [email protected]

Internet: http://www.welin-lambie.co.uk

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BLUCHEFKJOSAM

Bliicher-Josam's sanitary piping system is a complete stainless steel system for shipbuilding with all the necessary fittings, drains, pipe hangers and bulk head penetrations. All products are approved for installation in ships.

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For information or a product demonstration call or fax Bliicher-Josam today. 2501 S. Front Street • Philadelphia, PA 19148

Phone 215-339-5370 • Fax 800-962-3312

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