January 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

American Heavy Lift Requests CDS To Build Two $14-Million Vessels

The Maritime Administration has announced that American Heavy Lift Shipping Company, P.O. Box 1166, Pittsburgh, Pa., has applied for construction-differential subsidy (CDS) to aid in financing the construction of two heavy-lift roll-on/roll-off (ro/ ro) cargo vessels of approximately 3,000 deadweight tons and capable of speeds of 13.5 knots, fully loaded (see MARITIME REPORTER / Engineering News of December 15, 1976). The new application replaces a previous application, submitted on March 18, 1975, for CDS for three vessels of 4,500 dwt each.

The ships will be twin-screw diesel propelled, fitted with two heavy-lift cranes capable of lifting 216 metric tons (mt) each or 432 mt in tandem. They will also have bow and stern ramps, the former providing capacity for heavy-lift cargoes of up to 1,000 mt. The vessels will serve all U.S. coasts, including the Great Lakes, and may operate foreignto- foreign, carrying heavy or oddsize cargoes. Estimated cost is approximately $14 million per vessel; the company requests CDS of approximately $5 million per vessel. A shipyard was not specified.

Gulf Trading and Transportation Company's Marine Department will operate the ships, with technical assistance from Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft "Hansa." The applicant will be owned 75 percent by Gulf and 25 percent by Hansa. Gulf Trading and Transportation Company operates a total of 80 U.S.

and foreign-flag tankers, and Hansa owns and operates 28 heavy-lift and 44 other type vessels.

The company estimates annual revenue per vessel of $2.5- $5 million, and sufficient cargo volume to support at least 10 vessels.

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