Page 24: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1993)

Stage/Blast Introduces

Inspection System

To Marine Industry

Stage/Blast, Inc., a U.S. stag- ing, blasting and coating company, recently completed a worldwide trip to introduce its inspection sys- tem to the marine industry. The staging system, called the

Stageway System, allows shipown- ers safe access to all areas of their vessels whether the ship is under- way, at anchor or at berth.

The Stageway System utilizes motorized platforms and unique rigging techniques to provide ac- cess to the interior side shells and overheads in oil tankers and bulk carriers. Stage/Blast teams up with a certified inspection company to provide a comprehensive condition report that is reported to be accept- able to all regulatory bodies and meets the new inspection guide- lines currently being implemented.

Over the last 18 months, the

Stageway System has been used in the U.S. in performing numerous inspections on VLCCs for the pur- pose of meeting inspection guide- lines and preparing shipyard speci- fications for bidding purposes.

Many of these jobs have been done while the vessel was under- way. The ability to use the system while the vessel is underway pro- vides shipowners with a tremen- dous opportunity to reduce costly downtime.

One feature of the system is its versatility. Once the platforms are in place, light to medium repairs can be done from the staging. Ac- cording to Gerry Bell, president of Stage/Blast, "This is one of the only systems that will allow the transportation of up to four people in complete safety for the purposes of inspection, repairs or maintenance and we are currently negotiating with shipyards worldwide to have the

Stageway System on site."

For further information,

Circle 39 on Reader Service Card

Kinetics Introduces Oil

Spill Response Air

Cushion Vehicle

Kinetic Technologies (Kinetics) of

Bellevue, Wash., recently introduced a unique air cushion vehicle (ACV) platform. The Kinetics ACV, desig- nated K-35SC-1, is reported to be suited for amphibious transport of oil spill response personnel and equipment. Other operations which the ACV can perform include near shore oil boom deployment, waste removal and survey assistance.

The length of the craft is 38 feet with a beam of 18 feet. On cushion operating height is 2.5 feet. The vehicle has a six-ton payload capac- ity. Cruising speed on water is 25 knots and on land it is 30 knots.

A model of the air cushion vehicle from Kinetics.

Other vehicle characteristics in- clude: modular construction—allow- ing for vehicle road transport; open cargo deck—for oil boom and waste barrel stowage; diesel power lift module; integrated lift-ride control system; alternate propulsion system options and single operator control station.

For more information describing the Kinetics ACV,

Circle 134 on Reader Service Card

BethShip, Sabine Yard

Experiences Most

Profitable, Busiest Year

Bethlehem Steel Corporation's

BethShip, Sabine Yard has experi- enced its most profitable and busi- est year since it began operations in

Port Arthur, Texas, in late 1985.

Firm bookings for the drydocking of offshore drilling and production rigs extend well into January 1993.

The main facility contributing to the increased business activity at the Sabine yard is its 64,000-ton drydock. It is capable of servicing any type of mobile offshore drilling unit and production facility, as well as all types of ships.

The Zane Barnes, a semisubmersible which is one of the largest oil drilling rigs in the world, was drydocked for repairs sustained by Hurricane Andrew. Operated by

Reading & Bates Drilling Co., it left the Sabine yard following eight weeks of repair work.

By the end of 1992, the yard re- ported that it had worked on at least six ships and six drilling units. The yard is presently negotiating with several other drilling companies for work which could continue well into the first quarter of this year.

The depth of the Sabine-Neches

CAPSTAN WINCHES * 4 f > • DIRECT DRIVE • HIGH STARTING LINE PULLS • ROPE CAN COME OFF AT ANY ANGLE • SEVEN SIZES AVAILABLE

CAN BE ELECTRICALLY-HYDRAULICALLY OR AIR POWERED

JEAMAR WINCHES INC. 1051 Clinton St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14206

TEL (716) 854-3211 FAX (416) 889-3795

Circle 221 on Reader Service Card

Quality

Dependability

Versatility

Specializing in passenger ship galley, bar and pantry design; custom stainless steel catering equipment fabrication; and marine installation and repair services.

Atlas Marine Services, Inc. 6960 N.W. 46th Street

Miami, Florida 33166

Tel: (305)594-7433 Fax: (305)593-2371

Finland Office: Tel: 358-0-455-1156 Fax:358-0-464-332

Ship Channel at Bethlehem's 10-acre

Pleasure Island location is 40 feet.

When the yard's drydock sections are assembled in ship mode it is 829 feet long and 122 feet wide. When the sections are arranged in an oil rig configuration, it provides a clear docking area of 414 feet by 362 feet.

For details on the facilities and services provided by BethShip,

Circle 59 on Reader Service Card

Wartsila's Donation

Benefits USMMA

Wartsila Diesel Corp. recently donated a diesel engine to the U.S.

Merchant Marine Academy which will enhance the federal maritime school's marine engineering program.

The Vasa 8R22 diesel engine will be used as a training aid by under- graduate midshipmen, as well as by licensed seafarers who enroll in vari- ous continuing education engineer- ing courses at the Academy.

Wartsila has also provided neces- sary maintenance tools, manuals and demonstration models with the die- sel engine. "In 1990, Wartsila pledged a sub- stantial contribution to the Kings

Point endowment fund which led to the designation of an engineering laboratory as the Wartsila Room," says Cmdr. James Harbach

The diesel engine donated by

Wartsila will be a primary aid in a diesel maintenance course in which many Academy senior engineering majors enroll. 26 Circle 272 on Reader Service Card

Robertson Disc Navigation

System Increases

Safety Of Navigation

The Robertson Disc Navigation system is designed to increase the safety of navigation by the integra- tion of its stored electronic charts with input from the ship's instru- ments into a real-time geographic information tool. The Robertson

ECDIS, which is able to receive in- put from the ship's gyrocompass, speedlog, ARPA, depth sounder and

GPS, monitors the vessel's route in relation to land, charted or observed objects, and unseen hazards. An ownship model is displayed on a true motion or relative motion electroni- cally digitized chart or single color background.

The 308-foot icebreaker Nathaniel

B. Palmer, built by North American

Shipbuilding, Inc., is reported to be the first U.S.-flag ship to be fitted with a Robertson ECDIS. The only other vessel in the Antarctic, the

Rieber Shipping cruise/research ship

Polar Circle, is also fitted with a

Robertson Disc Navigation System.

Besides the Robertson Disc Navi- gation system, the Palmer also has

Robertson's Dynamic Positioning system and main steering controls.

For a full-color brochure on ECDIS or other Robertson Marine products,

Circle 60 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News