Page 16: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2001)

Why wait for a welde

Join and seal pipes in less than 15 minutes

With a NORMACONNECT® coupling and a torque wrench, anyone can connect high- pressure pipes in minutes — and they'll stay sealed.

Rugged NORMACONNECT® couplings are 70% lighter than welded flange joints and take up 40% less space.

They also: • reduce noise and dampen vibration • save time previously spent on welding and x-rays • compensate for misalignment, angular deflection and variances in pipe O.D. • eliminate the pipe grooving and end treatment necessary with other couplings • feature a patented double-lip seal • are available in all IPS nominal O.D.'s, from 3/4" to 48" (26.9mm to 1220mm) • are rated at 16 bar to IPS 8.0" (219.1mm) by all major marine approval bodies.

For metal-to-metal, metal-to-plastic and plastic-to- plastic joints, you'll save time and money with

NORMACONNECT® Pipe Couplings. They're used on everything from ocean-going passenger ships (e.g., the first ones built in the U.S. in 40 years) to semi-submersible oil rigs.

For more information, contact NORMA Products or our marine distribution partner, W&O Supply. fl •

Supply

W&O Supply

Engineered Products Division

Phone: (334) 438-2810

Fax: (334) 438-2817 e-mail: [email protected]

NORMA®.

A WORLD OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.

NORMA PRODUCTS (U.S.), INC.

Phone: (800) 406-6762

Fax: (248) 668-9523

Website: www.norma.de e-mail: [email protected]

NDRMH

News

New ATB Joint Venture

Is Formed

Richard Bludworth, CEO of Bludworth Marine

LLC, and John Cook formerly with Odyssea Trans- portation, Inc. and Marine Specialty Company, have formed a new joint venture, Bludworth Cook Marine, to design and manufacture an updated pad style articulat-

The crewmember you always wanted

Since their introduction in 1982, ComNav Autopilots have gained a reputation for top performance and reliability in any sea and weather conditions. ComNav Marine has a broad line of autopilots suitable for all types of vessels. 2001 Autopilot • Water resistant Control Head • Three "Turn" functions • Automatic trim • Two remote ports built-in • Two navigation ports for dual input of NMEA information • Two heading outputs • Selectable steering parameters • Optional rudder angle indicator, up to 4 stations • 3 year Extended Warrantee

COmNCIV* ComNav Marine Ltd.

Y #15-13511 Crestwood Place, Richmond, BC, Canada V6V 2G1 (604) 207-1600 www.comnavmarine.com

Circle 221 on Reader Service Card

GIBBS & COX ££

TEL: 212-366-3900 50 W 23 St. NY. NY 10010 FAX: 212-366-7999

Engineering and Design Support

To Shipbuilders Around the World

Since 1929

Arlington, VA Hampton, VA Philadelphia, PA Brunswick, ME

Visit our web site @ www.gibbscox.com

Circle 241 on Reader Service Card ed tug and barge connection (ATB) system providing new technology to an already proven concept.

The company principals, having been involved over the last 20 years with the design, fabrication and instal- lation of most of the Bludworth style connection sys- tems currently in service today, will provide an enhanced ATB connection system that will offer improved performance and reliability for economical tug-barge retrofits or for newly con- structed ATB units. The new company is also working on technical upgrades for existing systems and a second genera- tion dual mode system that will address the requirements for offshore lightering, permitting the tug to remain positively connected to the barge during cargo operations at sea.

Circle 14 on Reader Service Card

Chevron Acquires Two Tankers

Chevron Shipping Co., LLC will acquire two, double-hull oil tankers from Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Samsung

Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., of Korea.

The Aframax tankers will be built in

Samsung's Koje Island yard and are expected to be delivered in 2003.

Chevron will charter the vessels, which Mitsui will own, for 10 years.

This is the seventh boat built by Sam- sung for Chevron. When designing the tankers. Chevron intends to use high quality materials, accommodations and state-of-the-art safety equipment.

OMI Acquires Vessels

OMI Corporation has acquired a 35,000-dwt product carrier from

Kulukundis Shipping Investments Inc.

Built in 2000, the carrier is expected to arrive in April or May. OMI will issue 1,150,000 shares of its common stock to the seller at $8 per share and pay the bal- ance in cash. To the extent that the aver- age of the closing prices for 120 trading days following registration is less than $8 per share, OMI is obliged to pay the difference between $8 and that average.

If the stock closes at $8 or above 30 days (10 consecutive) no amount is payable.

The maximum additional payment is $2.3 million.

Amer Reefer Files

For Bankruptcy

Amer Reefer and its seven subsidiaries filed petitions in New York for reorgani- zation under U.S. Bankruptcy Code chapter 11. The filing comes after six months of intensive negotiations between the company and its bondhold- ers in respect of restructuring its 10.3 percent senior notes due 2008. In March, company advisors believed they had reached a commercial agreement, which was acceptable. However, the settlement was frustrated by the failure to agree on a settlement involving escrow funds. 16 Circle 269 on Reader Service Card www.maritimetoday.com Maritime Reporter & Engineering News