JAMSTEC Deepsea Exploring Ship Contract Announced

Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) will build a deep sea exploring ship for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and has signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

(MHI) for the basic design of the deep sea exploring ship and with Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) for the dynamic positioning system (DPS) and ship systems. IODP is an international program carried out by the U.S., Japan, and other participating nations. The program targets studies on the earth and life science through exploring changes in weather, mechanisms of change deep in the earth, unknown living organisms in deep seas, and gas hydrates. The ship must be operated in sea areas with water depths of 8,202 ft.

(2,500 m) and 13,123 (4,000 m) (in the future) and be capable of drilling deeply to the mantle.

The contract for construction of the ship is being drawn up this month, and the ship will be completed in 2004. TSC completes DH tanker Pacific Libra Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

(TSC) has corn- pleted construction of the Pacific Libra, a double-hull Aframax tanker of 106,644 dwt, for Pacific Lily Shipping S. A. of Panama. The new tanker is designed for increased propulsion efficiency. A newly-designed propeller can achieve 15 knots in service speed with an engine output less than that required for the conventional Aframax tanker. The Cu-Fe type anti-adhesion system against marine organisms is installed to prevent adhesion of marine organisms to the hull, as well as hull corrosion. Cargo oil tanks consist of six pairs of tanks and one pair of slop tank (14 tanks), which are separated by the center bulkhead. The total cargo oil tank capacity is 119,055 cu. m. (98 percent), or approximately 748,828 barrels. The OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) Ship to Ship Transfer Guide is used to allow cargo handling with other ships.

Three types of oil cargoes can be carried at the same time, and double valves installed on cargo lines prevent contamination between cargoes. Three cargo oil pumps with a capacity of 2,500 cu. m. /hr x 135 T.H. are installed.

Automation of the engine room complies with M0 requirements. The seawater cooling pipes for the main engine is lined with polyethylene to protect the pipes from corrosion. Auxiliary boilers can burn A-type heavy fuel oil for preservation of the environment.

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