Page 42: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 15, 1973)

ABS-Classed Tonnage

Continues To Increase

The classification figures for the first six months of this year show a continual increase in American Bureau of Shipping activity, it was announced at the semi-annual meeting of its fcoard of managers, held in New York on September 18. Robert T. Young, chairman and president, said that for the first six months of this year the American Bureau of Shipping has classed 789 new vessels of 3,868,000 gross tons or 7,094,000 deadweight tons. "This is an increase of over 27 percent in iboth gross tons and deadweight tons compared with the first half of 1972, and we expect this pace to con- tinue throughout 1973," reported Mr. Young.

Also classed by midyear were 50 existing ves- sels of 479,000 gross tons or 789,000 deadweight tons.

Under American Bureau of Shipping classi- fication as of July 1, 1973, were 9,794 vessels of 70,582,000 gross tons, or approximately 110,711,000 deadweight tons. At midyear, the world order book contained under contract to be built to ABS classification 3,049 vessels of 25,621,000 gross tons or 46,971,000 deadweight tons.

Mr. Young noted growing activity with off- shore mobile drilling units. "At present, there are 102 mobile drilling units of various types classed with the Bureau and 81 units con- tracted to be built to American Bureau of

Shipping classification or have had their plans reviewed by our staff," he stated. "Of these 81 units, 15 are surface type, 23 are self-ele- vating, and 43 are column stabilized." 'Continued growth was also reported for con- tainer certification. Since 1969, when this ac- tivity began, 91,000 units have been ordered

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Included in this figure are approximately 14,000 containers which have been ordered to ABS certification during the first six months of this year.

The involvement of the American Bureau of Shipping with LNG carriers continues to expand. Presently contracted to ABS classi- fication are nine 125,000-cubic-meter LNG car- riers to be built in the United States, and three 125,000-cubic-meter and two 35,000-cubic-meter

LNG vessels being built in France. Further, a 5,000-cubic-meter LNG barge is now being completed to ABS classification. -

During the first half of 1973, a number of new designs for integrated tug-barge combina- tions have been reviewed. The largest such combination involves an 80,000-dead>weight- ton barge. In addition, there are proposals to employ integrated tug-barge combinations for the transportation of liquefied natural gas.

Mr. Young mentioned that American Bureau of Shipping activity in tanker construction continues to be strong. In a sidelight, he noted that the Spyros Niarchos, at 47,450 dead- weight tons, claimed the title "world's largest tanker" at its launching in 1955. Since that time, this title has been consecutively held by nine ships, and presently, at 476,000-dead- weight-tons, is held by the Gldbtik Tokyo. "All of these vessels have been built to Ameri- can Bureau of Shipping classification," the chairman cited.

Mr. Young also reported on ABiS Worldwide

Technical 'Services, Inc., the wholly owned subsidiary of ABS. The activity of ABSTECH continues to maintain a steady growth. Its activity involves material testing, machinery unit inspection, cargo gear and crane certifi- cation, on-hire and off-hire surveys, towing surveys, third-party inspections, and general consulting services. In addition, ABSTECH has entered into formal owner's representa- tion contracts for new vessel construction which, at present, extend through October 1974. ABlSTECH has been formally registered in 37 states and 13 countries. At present, for- mal registration is being pursued in three additional countries.

China Shipbuilding Corp.

To Build Tankers For U.S. Firm —N.Y.C. Company Named Agent

The appointment of Amerny Shipping Agen- cy, Inc. as U.S. general agents for China Ship- building 'Corp. was announced by Capt. Hao

Wang, president of Amerny Shipping Agency,

Inc. of One World Trade Center, New York,

N.Y.

Located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China Ship- building Corp. was founded in July 1973, with 45 percent of the company owned by the

Republic of China and 55 percent by private firms. The board of directors, headed by Vice

Adm. S.T. Wang as chairman, consists of sev- en Chinese Government and eight other di- rectors associated with Gatx Oswego Corp.,

Consolidated Navigation Corp., Associated

Maritime industries, Inc., and Camerona

Navigation Corp.

With initial construction already under way and completion expected (by 1975, the new ship- yard will offer the facility of the largest grav- ing dock in the world, with building capacity rated at 1,000,000 deadweight tons.

Together with announcing Amerny Shipping

Agency, Inc.'s appointment, Captain Wang commented that initial new order commitments are very encouraging. The first order, by Gatx

Oswego Corp., is for six 360,000-dwt tankers to be completed and delivered in early 1977.

Marine Transport Lines, N.Y.C. has already been designated as operators for the new buildings. 14

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News