American Bureau Classes 55 Vessels In September

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classed 55 vessels worldwide in September, totaling 1,129,407 deadweight tons or 611,884 gross tons.

The vessels classed during the month included two very large crude carriers (VLCCs), one selfelevating drilling unit and three roll-on / roll-off (ro / ro) vessels.

Also classed during the month were cargo vessels, bulk carriers, trawlers, two manned submersibles, a floating drydock, a passenger and vehicle ferry, and deck, tank, and crane barges.

The 450,695-dwt Burmah Enterprise was built by the China Shipbuilding Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for Burmah Enterprise Ltd., Swindon, England. The other VLCC, the 402,936-dwt N.A.I.

Superba, was constructed in Sweden by Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads A.B., for Navigazione Alta Italia S.P.A., Genoa, Italy.

The self-elevating drilling unit D.K. Mcintosh was built for Reading & Bates Exploration Co., Houston, Texas, by Bethlehem Singapore (Pte.),Ltd., Singapore.

The unit is designed to operate in depths of up to 250 feet in the elevated position.

Of the three ro/ro vessels, two were built in Japan and one was built in the Netherlands. Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Sasebo, Japan, built the ro/ro vehicle and container carrier Hellenic Explorer for Hellenic Lines Ltd., New York, N.Y. The ro/ro vehicle carrier Cosmobil Ace was constructed by Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd., Nagasaki, Japan, for Cosmobil Carrier, Inc., Panama, Republic of Panama. Built in the Netherlands by A. Vuyk & Zonen's Scheepswerven, B.V., was the ro/ ro vehicle and container carrier Anzere. The vessel was built for Transoceanique Suisse, S.A., Compagnie de Navegacion.

The eight cargo vessels classed by ABS during September were built by Polish, Yugoslavian, Indian, Japanese, Turkish, and Philippines yards for a variety of owners. All seven trawlers were built by three Mexican yards.

The two manned submersibles were built by Perry Submarine Builders, Inc., Riviera Beach, Fla., for International Submarine Services, S.A., Marseilles, France. The PC-1804 can operate at a maximum depth of 984 feet, and the PC-1205 can operate at a maximum depth of 1,200 feet.

The American Bureau of Shipping is an international ship classification society that establishes standards, called Rules, for the design, construction, and periodic survey of merchant vessels and other marine structures.

Other stories from November 15, 1978 issue

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