Page 101: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 1997)

CONVERSION PROJECT PROFILER

Cascade General Executive Vice

President Andrew Rowe. "It has enabled us to demonstrate the full potential of Portland Shipyard and

Cascade General as major players in the U.S. conversion market."

Integral to its new role of deep- water oil prospecting, Glomar

Explorer needed the capability to hold position of +10 ft. (+3.04 m) over a drill site up to 7,500 ft. (2,286 m) deep. This necessitated additional thrusting capability in the form of four new 3,000 hp azimuthing units operating in 50 x 12.5 ft. (15.2 x 3.8 m) vertical tubes.

These electric thrusters can be raised and inspected at deck level via a vertical rail system, built to machine-level tolerances.

The total power of the nine thrusters is 22,000 hp, greater than the ship's main propellers.

All 11 screws are connected to the vessel's new, dynamic positioning system. Six 18-in. (45.7-cm) tubes projecting from the main deck to the bottom have been installed to carry the hydrophone array. The bridge has been completely re- designed to meet these precise, navigational needs. "In many ways, the complex demands of this job are greater than with new construction," said

Alan Jones, Cascade General pro- ject manager and a 25-year veter- an with the yard. "The Glomar contract has made full use of all our assets: the drydocks and cranes, workshops and workforce.

We've also had great support from local specialists/subcontractors." "We have overcome numerous challenges, from containing the lead paint removed from the hous- es to removing the original, 150- ton, heavy-lift girders over the pool," said Ship Superintendent

Jim Mattix. "Our goal has been to upgrade the existing systems to full ABS standards to match all the new equipment we've added."

After load testing of the engines and sea trials, Glomar Explorer was delivered under its own power to the Gulf Coast via Cape Horn, where it will be fitted out and com- menced work under a five-year, exploration contract. According to

Jeff Shepard, Global Marine

Construction manager, "The work accomplished in Portland has been a critical milestone in the process of creating a state-of-art, deepwa- ter drill ship. We are confident this ship will be on the leading edge of exploration technology and the equal of any vessel afloat."

Cascade General operates

Portland Shipyard, the largest ship repair and industrial facility on the U.S. West Coast. It pro- vides full-service repairs and con- versions for tankers, cruise ships, bulk carriers, containerships, gov- ernment vessels, tugs, barges and workboats. Cascade General's

Portland facility includes a 96-acre yard, more than 7,000 ft. (2,133 m) of repair berths and three floating drydocks — including Dry Dock 4, reportedly the largest in the

Americas.

For more information on

Cascade General

Circle 44 on Reader Service Card

INTRODUCING ...

MARITIME WEEK

Maritime Activity Reports, Inc., the leader in providing news and informa- tion to the maritime industry for over 50 years, proudly introduces Maritime

Week. Published 52 times per year,

Maritime Week is designed to deliver business and financial news and analysis regarding the international maritime marketplace, to busy industry execu- tives in a timely and cost effective manner. Maritime Week supplies read- ers with the "need-to-know" informa- tion that is crucial for short-term and long-term planning. Feature articles, regular news sections and statistical compilations are designed to not only deliver the international, national, from the publishers of

Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

I 1

MARITIME WEEK SUBSCRIPTION • Yes! Please send me 52 issues of Maritime Week for just $295.00

Name

Company

Address

City

State Country _

Phone e-mail .Zip.

Fax. • Check Enclosed Please Bill My • VISA • MASTERCARD

Account Number

Expiration Date.

Signature _

I I

MARITIME ACTIVITY REPORTS, INC. - 118 EAST 25TH STREET • NEW YORK. NY 10010

Circle 328 on Reader Service Card regional and local happenings — but to provide the BIG PICTURE: insight and invaluable analysis avail- able only from a staff of seasoned industry journalists who are strategical- ly positioned around the globe.

Weekly features will keep readers abreast of the performance of industry stocks, provide current contract infor- mation, profile the equipment, people and companies currently setting the trends in the maritime industry ... and much more! So don't delay. Fill out the form at left and fax it to us at 212-254-6271 to start your subscrip- tion to Maritime Week today! You'll wonder how you ever did business in the maritime industry without it!

July, 1997 101