Page 13: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2004)

News

US waters." Vortmann said the design of the four 1,3-million-barrel-capacity tankers in the Alaska Class will allow maximum flexibility for oil deliveries to

West Coast ports, including BP refiner- ies in Los Angeles and Cherry Point,

WA. Vortmann added that NASSCO is continuing to hire people to fill hun- dreds of positions that remain available for this and other shipbuilding programs in the company's 10-ship backlog.

The first ship, the Alaskan Frontier, was delivered to BP on August 11. On

July 2, the second ship was floated out of NASSCO's graving dock following structural erection and its fitting out continues pierside. The third ship is under construction in the graving dock.

The second, third and fourth ships are to be delivered in 2005 and 2006.

Meyer Werft Wins AIDA

Cruise Order

AIDA Cruises placed an approximate $793.5 million ordered for two club ships of a new generation from

Germany's Meyer Werft. The 68,500- gt, 817 ft. ships will be designed and built to offer 2,030 guests a unique experience. "With these ships we are progressing our successful AIDA con- cept," said Michael Thamm, President of AIDA Cruises. "We are looking for- ward to realizing two ambitious new vessels for AIDA Cruises, the most innovative German cruise company,"

Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of los. L. Meyer GmbH said. "These excit- ing new vessels will set the standard for the future of German cruising for many years to come."

Navy Contract "We're thrilled that the Navy has recognized the world-class partnership we've put together to build a revolutionary ship design that could transform the way the Navy moves on the water," said William Burns of M Ship Co.

In M-Hull vessels, as designed and patented by

M Ship Co., the compression of the air beneath the hull creates an air cushion and increases propulsion efficiency by converting wave energy to boat lift. The technology is relatively new, dat- ing back only to 1999, when, based on a newly- created design by M Ship Co., Knight & Carver built a 65-ft. M-Hull water-taxi for commercial use in the wake-sensitive canals of Venice, Italy.

The vessel proved highly effective in minimizing water damage to the canals and promptly led M

Ship Co. to consider similar applications of the

M-Hull on both larger and smaller vessels.

As part of its partnership with M Ship Co.,

Knight & Carver has constructed a demo model of a 40-ft. M-Hull motoryacht. Production of additional similar vessels is expected soon. A smaller, aluminum-hulled 38-ft. prototype, featur- ing the M Hull with cruising speeds in excess of 40 knots, has been a frequent sight along San

Diego Bay in recent months.

Circle 36 on Reader Service Card

M Ship 80 Main Particulars

Builder Knight & Carver

Design M Ship Co.

Length 80 ft.

Breadth 40 ft.

Hull M-Hull

November 2004

IJ

UNITED STATES

MARINE REPAIR

AMERICA S LARGEST

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AND CONVERSION COMPANY

A United Defense Company 750 West Berkley Avenue - Norfolk, VA 23523

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Circle 328 on Reader Service Card norsMPca

Don Everton

Phone: 757.494.4565

E-mail: [email protected] 750 West Berkley Avenue - Norfolk, VA 23523

Phone: 757.494.4000 - Fax: 757.494.4030 www.norshipco.com 13