Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1988)

Matson Navigation Requests Bids

From Three U.S. Shipyards

To Build RO/RO Containership of our needs into the early 1990s," he said.

Matson currently operates a fleet of six modern vessels, including four containerships and the combination container-trailer carriers Matsonia and Lurline.

For free literature describing the services of Matson Navigation,

Avondale, Bethlehem-Sparrows Point & NASSCO To Bid circle 94 on Reader service card

Massport Buys

Shipping Terminal

For $3.4 Million

The Massachusetts Port Authori- ty (Massport), Boston, Mass., re- cently purchased a 35-acre commer- cial shipping terminal for $3.4 mil- lion from the General Services Ad- ministration.

The domestic merchant marine shipbuilding industry recently re- ceived a boost when shipowner Mat- son Navigation Company, San

Francisco, Calif., requested bids from three United States shipyards for construction of a combination lift-on, lift-off containership/roll- on, roll-off (RO/RO) carrier. The vessel would be delivered in late 1991, according to company presi- dent M.S. Wasacz.

Matson has requested bids from the Shipyard Division of Avondale

Industries, Inc., Avondale, La.;

Bethlehem Steel Company's Spar- rows Point, Md., shipyard; National

Steel & Shipbuilding Co., San Die- go, Calif.

According to Arthur J. Has- kell, senior vice president, engi- neering and marine operations, the three yards were selected based on their ability to submit design pro- posals to meet Matson's require- ments, interest and intended ap- proach to the project and financial capabilities.

Matson has asked for bids and specifications by January 18, 1989, for construction of a slow-speed die- sel-powered vessel of about 780 feet in length, with a beam of 105-1/2 feet, and capacity for 1,600 contain- ers (24-foot equivalents), 500 auto- mobiles and 1,800 short tons of mo- lasses.

The vessel is intended for Mat- son's West Coast-Hawaii service.

Under the Jones Act of 1921, all ves- sels intended for use in the domestic market must be constructed in U.S. shipyards.

The single-screw vessel is ex- pected to be powered by a diesel engine in the "40,000-horsepower range." She will have a service speed of about 22.5 knots and a maximum speed of 23.5 knots and will be able to carry 400 refrigerated containers.

Based on developments in the con- tainer industry, the ship will have the flexibility to accommodate con- tainers of various sizes up to 48 feet in length.

The RO/RO section at the after end will include a 500-car enclosed garage and capacity for trailers and oversized vehicles.

According to Mr. Haskell, Mat- son intends to construct the vessel with funds from the Capital Con- struction Fund, and they have in- formed the Maritime Administra- tion of their intentions.

The Capital Construction Fund (CCF) Program was established un- der the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. It assists operators in accumu- lating capital to build, acquire and reconstruct vessels through the de- ferral of Federal income taxes on certain deposits, as defined in Sec- tion 607 of the Merchant Marine

Act, 1936, as amended.

The CCF program enables opera- tors to build vessels for the U.S. for- eign trade, Great Lakes, nonconti- guous domestic trade (e.g., between the West Coast and Hawaii) and the fisheries of the U.S.

Matson Navigation is a Capital

Construction fund holder. "This program is a logical add-on to the growth in our trade," said Mr.

Haskell. "We will need the addi- tional capacity based on our projec- tions for 1991. She should take care

MARKISCHES WERK HALVER

MWH-PERFECTION

FROM ONE SOURCE!

MWH delivers everything which belongs to a quality valve: guides, inserts, springs.

Strong, reliable, enduring

The advantages : total compatibility of MWH quality products highest precision all components from one supplier

Matson Navigation drawing of the proposed RO/RO containership the company plans to build in one of three U.S. yards—Avondale Industries, Avondale Shipyard Division. Avon- dale, La.; Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point, Md., yard; and National Steel & Shipbuilding

Co., San Diego, Calif. The ship has also been slated for possible future conversion to accommodate larger sized containers.

Markisches Werk GmbH • P.O.Box 1442 • D-5884 Halver

Phone (2353) 72274 • Telex 8263649 mwhd • Telefax (2353) 72255

Circle 175 on Reader Service Card

October, 1988 63