Page 54: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 1991)

Keel-Laying Ceremony

For Double-Bottom Tanker

Held At IHI's Aichi Yard

The Aichi Shipyard of Ishikawaji- ma-Harima Heavy Industries Co.,

Ltd. (IHI), Tokyo, Japan, recently held a keel-laying ceremony for a double-bottom tanker (145,000 dwt) for delivery to the Greek owner On- assis.

Last July, a contract was con- cluded for building two ordinary single-hull tankers, but the specifi- cations were later changed to the double-bottom hull design for added safety on Onassis's proposi- tion. The first ship is scheduled to be completed in May 1991. The sec- ond vessel's completion is set for MarAd Transfers Title September 1991.

The Aichi Shipyard, one of the world's most modernly equipped, is scheduled to continuously build 150,000-dwt-class tankers and SPB- type LNG carriers.

For free literature detailing the facilities and capabilities of IHI,

Circle 37 on Reader Service Card 58

To Three LNG Carriers

The Maritime Administration re- cently transferred title to three li- quefied natural gas carriers, the Ar- zew, Southern and Gamma.

The new owners, Argent Marine I,

Argent Marine II, and Cabot LNG

Shipping, expect to move the ships soon from layup in Rhode Island to

Virginia, where they will undergo extensive refurbishment in a U.S.

Shipyard.

This sale will enable these long- idled ships to once again operate under the U.S. flag, with U.S. crews, bringing energy supplies to the

United States.

Malaysian Shipping Line

And NYK Jointly Order

LNG Carrier From NKK

A new LNG carrier was recently jointly ordered from Japan's NKK shipyard by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Malaysia's Perbadanan Nasion- al Shipping Line Berhad. The vessel will be used to carry liquefied natu- ral gas between the two countries.

Value of the contract is about 10 billion yen, or $77.5 million at cur- rent exchange rates.

NKK hopes that the carrier will be the first of several such ships as smaller utilities in Japan begin im- porting gas directly.

The new 427-foot vessel, which will be double-hulled, will fly the

Malaysian flag. The Malaysia LNG

Sdn. Bhd. gas company will charter the ship under a 20-year contract for voyages between Malaysia and Sai- bu Gas Co.'s system on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu.

Saibu is Japan's first medium-sized utility to import LNG directly.

Subtech '91 Issues

Call For Papers

The theme of Subtech '91, sched- uled for Aberdeen, November 7-9, 1991, will be "Back to the Future."

The conference, organized by

AODC (the International Associa- tion of Underwater Engineering

Contractors) and the Society for

Underwater Technology, will demonstrate how current technolo- gy using ROV and diver interven- tion is based on that vast reservoir of invaluable knowledge culled over the intervening years.

A call of papers has been issued, abstracts to be submitted to SUT, 18 Farburn Terrace, Dyce, Aber- deen AB2 ODT, by no later than

January 31, 1991. The call for pa- pers lists a range of topics under five main headings: Safety; Are We Go- ing Overboard With Inspection;

Pipelines; Subsea Field Develop- ments; and Tomorrow's World.

Copies of the call for papers lea- flet are available from AODC at 28/ 30 Little Russell Street, London,

WC1A 2HN, telephone (071) 405 7045, fax (071) 831 2581; or from the

SUT at 18 Farburn Terrace, Dyce,

Aberdeen AB2 ODT, telephone 0224 770533, fax 0224 723192, or 76

Mark Lane, London EC3R 7JN, telephone (071) 481 0750, fax (071) 481 4001.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News