Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1999)

SHIP REPAIR

This Barge Is Fairest Of Them All

The 198-passenger R/B River Explorer is a vessel perhaps like no other, designed and "built" to offer passengers from all walks of life the unforgettable experience of "barging" through

America's vast inland waterways.

The vessel's tale is as unique as its itinerary, as the River

Explorer is actually built upon two 295-ft. barges — LaSalle and DeSoto — and powered by the powerful towboat Miss

Nari, which is reported to be the only towboat in the U.S. with

Z-Peller 360-degree propulsion units.

Bauer Interiors spearheaded the mission of incorporating cameos of river history into the interior retro design of the

River Explorer.

When the project was started, it was evident that "convert- ibility" was the prime directive of the project, to arrange the vessel a multitude of uses within a single space.

R/B River Explorer - The Rio Vista Lobby "We were faced with the challenge of providing all the mod- ern amenities of a first-class hotel and incorporating them into the two barges' casual theme and emphasis on river history," said Grace Bauer, president of Bauer Interiors.

Among interesting design themes onboard are the Pilot

House Lounge and the DeSoto Patio.

The former duplicates most of the electronic outfitting found in the real pilothouse, as passengers watch radar screens, hear ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship radio conversations and review maps and charts of the river. The latter recreates the air of an ante-bellum New Orleans courtyard with foliage and fountain.

The aft barge, LaSalle, carries two floors of two-person, ail- outside staterooms furnished in birds-eye maple and mahogany.

Each 200-sq.-ft. room is equipped with satellite and closed circuit TV and VCR, refrigerator, phone with computer port, and bathroom with tub and shower.

Circle 63 on Reader Service Card

Hfcn!lllailP!ft Leading the world in , - r-T-T"f?!B!?.?JS Davit Technology

Since the turn of the century, Welin Lambie has remained synonymous with innovative davit systems for the ever changing, marine, offshore and military markets.

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The demands from individual customers has seen the development of sophisticated davit systems with low weight, electronic constant tension, EMC compatibility and, where applicable, shock tested to military standards.

Whether the requirement is for conventional dav or purpose built systems, Welin Lambie will at the forefront of davit technology.

Welin Lambie N.A. Inc. 18 Ridgecrest Drive, Bridgewater,

Nova Scotia, Canada B4V 3V8

Telephone: (902) 543 4337 Telefax: (902) 543 9787

Email: [email protected]

Internet: http://www.welin-lambie.co.uk

New Shipyard Opens

Shipping Investment of Puerto

Rico, Inc. is a new ship repair organization established to pro- vide diversified ship repair activi- ties in the Caribbean. The compa- ny's repair yard is located in the

San Juan Bay area of Puerto Rico, just a few minutes from the entrance to San Juan Harbor. It operates a 30,000 GRT drydock certified by the American Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd's Register, as well as a large and well- equipped machine shop. Repairs above the water line are per- formed at one of several piers.

Main services include hull con- servation, welding services, tank cleaning, propeller repair, mechanical and electrical works.

Circle 31 on Reader Service Card

Facility Particulars

Graving dock max. cap 30,000 GRT

Graving dock length, o.a 691 ft. (210 m)

Docking length, o.a. . .. .632 ft. (192.6 m)

Maximum docking draft 24 ft. (7.3 m)

Width, o.a. top 100 ft. (30 m)

Width, o.a. top for 4 ft. blocks 83 ft. (25 m)

Ballast 1 hour

Deballast 2 hours 40 Circle 235 on Reader Service Card

Portable Analyzer Boosts

Combustion Efficiency

ER & S Eurotron of

Plantersville, Tex. has developed a portable gas analyzer which is designed to improve the perfor- mance of main propulsion sys- tems and auxiliary equipment by accurately measuring the black smoke of unburned particulars and analyzing all parameters that affect combustion efficiencies.

The Y2K-approved microproces- sor-based analyzer can store up to 250 complete analyses, which can be downloaded directly into a PC or displayed on a built-in LCD display. Self-diagnostic software and an autocalibration system help eliminate potential human errors.

Circle 2 on Reader Service Card

ASRY Records Good Year

ASRY reported that it recorded the highest ever man hours and steel renewals in 1998. Repairs, ranging from quick seven day docking to major overhauls were routinely undertaken in 1998.

According to company statistics, the average stay in the yard rose by 12 percent to 21.9 days.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News