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The iconic 4-wheel-drive World War II Jeep has undergone decades of up- grades to become the modern SUV. Now the craft that landed on the beaches of Normandy and the islandsof the Pacific has been similarly up- graded at the South East Asia Shipyard in Vietnam. The most important factor in the design, by France?s Piriou In- génierie, is the provision for the land- ing craft to carry up to nine TEU of containers on trailers as well as regular cargos. Side rails will secure the trailers and their containers. Electric connec-tions will be provided for reefer con- tainers. The trailers and other cargo will be loaded and off loaded through the hydraulic controlled forward cargo ramp. The advent of containerized shipping has put many small island and coastal communities at a disadvantage in shipping products such as locallycaught fish. There has also been diffi- culties in the importation of container- ized consumer goods. The 39.8 x 9.8-m landing craft will be put in service be-tween St Martin and St Barthelemy Is-lands in the West Indies. The vessel, owned by RMP Caraïbes, is surveyed by BV and will be French flagged. To be named Hirundo, Latin for swallow, the vessel is powered by a pair of six- cylinder Cummins KTA19 engines each rated for 425 HP at 1800 rpm.These engines will turn fixed pitch four-blade propellers through ZF360 gears with 2.917:1 rations. Two Cum- mins-powered Leroy Somer generators with outputs of 106 KVA and 65 KVA will provide electrical power. Both gen- erators are 50Hz and 230-400 V tri- phase systems. Fuel and water capacities are 34 cu. m. and 7.5 cu. m.respectively. To be operated by a crew of four, the boat will be delivered to her owners via a heavy lift ship from Ho Chi Minh City to Pointe a Pitre, Guade-loupe and then on her own keel to St Barthelemy. This revision of the classic landing craft offers potential for many areas worldwide that are too small for a conventional container port. VESSELSSouth East Asia Shipyard Make Over for Landing CraftPhoto & Illustration courtesy of South East Asia Shipyard [email protected] 604.590.7313 Surrey, BC, Canada Complete Packages for ALL Vessels Whatever your vessel size or type may be, Kobelt can provide a complete package of engine controls and steering gear to meet your needs. Custom systems are also available.Kobelt has been manufacturing reliable, versatile engine controls, steering products, disc brakes and accessories for close to 50 years.www.kobelt.com Why not join the ranks of our satisfied customer base world-wide? Trust Kobelt to deliver! 24Maritime Reporter & Engineering News MR Aug. 11 # 3 (18-24):MR Template 8/3/2011 10:27 AM Page 24