Page 58: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1997)

NEW & NOTABLE

Clinging

TUSCAN determination to main- tain Livorno's august shipbuilding tradition has found new expression in the launching of a stainless steel tanker down the ways at Cantiere

Navale Fratelli Orlando, the indus- trial centerpiece of the Ligurian port.

The 9,550-dwt Giovanni Fagioli not only represents $36 million-worth of work for the independent shipyard enterprise born in 1995 out of a

Fincantieri entity, but is also a point- er to its early achievements in pene- trating a high-grade sector of the market. By the June completion of the 10,000-dwt oil/chemical carrier

Monte Bella, the first ship laid down after the takeover, the new propri- etors had built up the orderbook to a total value of $413 million, composed entirely of sophisticated tankers.

For a local community steeped in the science and business of con- structing and repairing ships — and which had endured a long period of uncertainty before the yard finally

To Tradition, With A Twist by David Tinsley, technical editor changed hands — the contractual commitments pointed to the continu- ity of high-value production through 1998 and 1999.

The introduction of Giovanni

Fagioli to its element in September signified a step-up in the output level at the Livorno yard, with three launchings effected in 1997, com- pared with the preceding years under the Fincantieri banner.

With the state-owned group's deci- sion to foster a far-reaching reorga- nization and increasingly more focused approach to the newbuilding market, the Livorno division had been placed on its divestment list relatively early on in the restructur- ing process. Livorno had nonethe- less consistently retained its skills in specialized and often high-technolo- gy areas of the shipbuilding busi- ness, including gas carriers, chem- tankers, reefer ships and RoRo ves- (Continued on page 82) Fratelli Orlando yard

Horn blower To Operate Pequot Fast Ferry Tugz Continues With Fleet Expansion

Yard Still to be Chosen For

Construction of Six More Z-Drive Vessels

Tugz International, an affiliate of the Great Lakes Towing Company

Group, will construct a series of six multi-purpose reverse tractor tugs.

The order is the second phase of the Group's fleet expansion and upgrade program, which is expect- ed to exceed $30 million.

The initial phase of the program involved the construction of two Z- class multi-purpose reverse tractor tugs, built by Halter Marine and delivered in November 1996.

With the commencement of the second phase, Tugz has filed for

Title XI ship financing guarantees from MarAd.

The six new tugs will each mea-

Hornblower Marine Services was scheduled to commence operations this month of what is touted to be the fastest passenger ferry in the

U.S. Sassacus will make the 103 nautical mile trip from New

London, Conn, to New York City in 2.5 hrs., traveling at speeds in excess of 50 mph. Built by Pequot

River Shipworks, the new vessel complies with the new IMO High

Speed Craft Code, as well as U.S. 56

Coast Guard and DNV certifica- tions. Technological features of the vessel include ARPA radar and night vision units. Sassacus is powered by Twin Solar Taurus Gas

Turbines reaching 5,108 hp at 1,300 rpm. A second vessel is cur- rently under construction and is expected to be completed by next summer.

For more information on Hornblower

Circle 52 on Reader Service Card Z-One.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News