Page 54: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 1997)

Mmaamm are now taking delivery of a series of 465.8-ft. (142-m), combined pas- senger/car/train ferries. Two apiece were ordered from the

Orskov yard in Denmark and Van der Giessen-de Noord in the

Netherlands.

Each ferry employs four 3,000- kW Contaz units, mounted two apiece at either end of the vessel.

The design flexibility conferred by the propulsors has enabled a bul- bous forefoot and streamlined underbody to be used at both ends of the new ferry type, providing further efficiency and speed gain compared with other "double- enders."

The concept had its first applica- tion in the diesel-electric platform supply vessel Skandi Mar stein, delivered in mid-1996, equipped with twin 2,200-kW Contaz units aft, and a retractable Aquamaster thruster forward.

Wartsila NSD Corp.

Wartsila Diesel's decline in oper- ating profit last year from 5.6 per- cent to 4 percent of net sales was attributed mainly to cost overruns in production. These, in turn, were a factor of the vigor and scale of the company's renewal program encompassing both its engine range and manufacturing facili- ties.

The downturn was not reflective of sales activity, in a year which saw Wartsila Diesel deliver a record volume of marine engines and gain 19 percent of the diesel power generation market.

The twin-track emphasis on com- petitive engine design and in- house production capability, com- bined with selective acquisitions and partnerships, has been at the root of the company's success in attaining the top slot in the medi- um-speed sector, and in securing an increasing share of the high- speed field.

Finland's Metra Group, for which

Wartsila Diesel constitutes the single largest business area, is confident that the merger of its engine activities with New Sulzer

Diesel (NSD), will provide a signif- icant boost in competitive strength. The new company,

Zurich-headquartered Wartsila

NSD Corporation, "offers wide scope for improvements in profits," according to Metra President

Georg Ehrnrooth. "However, this will depend on our ability to carry through sys- tematically and with determina- tion the changes that the merger of these companies will require," said

Mr. Ehrnrooth. Rationalization is inevitable, and is essential in an industry compelled to continuous- ly invest heavily in research and product development and ensure competitiveness with European costings in a business under acute price pressure.

The move to center commercial production of the Finnish-con- ceived Wartsila 64 diesel, the world's most powerful medium- speed engine, in Italy is an early expression of the intention of the largely Finnish-controlled

Wartsila NSD to employ all avail- able facilities in the 'network' to optimum effect.

The new, merged entity has a 40 percent stake in Fincantieri's

Quality

It's reflected in everything we ilo.

Bollinger

SHIPYARDS, INC.

ISO 9001 CERTIFIED *; Z~ • • For ci free brochure contact: — —«.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.

P.O. Box 250 • 8365 Highway 308 South

Lockport, LA 70374

Phone: (504) 532-2554»Fax: (504) 532-7225 http://www.bollingershipyards.com

LOCKPORT LAROSE.* MATHEWS • ALGIERS • HARVEY • FOURCHON • MORGAN CITY 54 Circle 203 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News