Page 44: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1997)

senger ferries for the short-haul link with Sicily, while four 70-m versions of its passenger/vehicle- carrying Aquastrada design are to be laid down at Pietra Ligure for operation with state-owned region- al operators.

While Rodriquez has a long tradi- tion in the commercial fast craft field, Italy's standing as a producer has been strengthened by

Fincantieri's activities, to the con- siderable benefit of the industry's export earnings. The group's out- put so far this year has included the first two of six, 38-knot mono- hulls for Sea Containers, and delivery of a second, 36-knot, 95-m monohull for Ocean Bridge

Investments, for charter to

Norway's Color Line.

Fincantieri's stake in the busi- ness now is such that at least 50 percent of its naval ship division's turnover is accounted by high- speed ferry design and construc- tion.

Korean moves

As with the Japanese, the nature of Korean research and develop- ment work in the field of high- speed seaborne transportation sig- nifies a long-term vision. All the major shipbuilders on the Korean peninsula have projects underway.

The industry sees business opportunities rising on the domes- tic front from increasing economic activity and mobility within the population, combined with govern- ment efforts to secure a modal shift in favor of waterborne trans- portation.

At the same time, companies are gearing up to respond to an antici- pated demand for fast seaborne movement of higher-value goods around the Pacific rim, and to break into the wider international market. Product strategy also reflects the need to progressively increase the more specialized, higher technology component of

Korean workloads against the prospect of current competitive- ness in conventional shipbuilding being eroded by lower-cost yards in

China and elsewhere. Samsung

Heavy Industries', with a sole high-speed vessel reference to date, by way of a 32-m, SES (sur- face effect ship), is intent upon expansion into the fast ferry, con- ventional ferry and cruise ship markets. It has set up a dedicated passenger ship division and facili- ties at its Koje Island yard, and commissioned a new towing tank and cavitation tunnel at its

Taeduk R&D center, near Taejon, equipped to test models at up to 100-knots.

At the time of writing, it was at a detailed stage of discussions with a European company over a requirement for two fast monohull ferries. The yard is promoting a clutch of designs of monohull and catamaran-type car/passenger fer- ries in the 75 to 83-m range, plus smaller, twin-hulled, passenger- only vessels.

At Ulsan, Hyundai Heavy

Industries has followed up last year's delivery of a 34.6-m foil catamaran passenger ferry, and the earlier completion of the 45-m

Han Ma Eum Ho with the develop- ment of an 80-m, high capacity. 46 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News

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