January 15, 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.

Other stories from January 15, 1977 issue

Content

Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.