Heavy Equipment
Damen Launches Support Vessel Blue Ocean
Dutch shipbuilding major Damen Shipyards Group launched its new 55-meter support yacht named Blue Ocean in its yard at Antalya, Turkey and will soon be ready for delivery.The new vessel is the eighth launch from the 55m YS 5009 (182 ft) range and will be available for delivery in spring 2020.The launch of Blue Ocean highlights the multipurpose role of Yacht Support vessels. She is the first Yacht Support built with a large multipurpose Main Deck hangar, which can be used for submersible and dive operations, or as a vehicle garage or workshop.According to a statement…
Air Caster Tech in the Shipyard
Like the magic carpet of ancient myth, air caster technology has revolutionized the way in which heavy payloads can be moved in a cost effective and efficient way — floating on air. Developed post-World War II by engineers at General Motors, air casters were later modified and improved for the construction of the iconic Boeing 707 in the early 1960s. Today, used in a host of industries, companies in the maritime industry are employing air casters to handle lifts from mega-yachts to massive hull sections and Z-drives.A PrimerA form of hydraulics that uses air instead of fluid…
Ty-Met Cable Ties Help Maintain Position in High-vibration Applications
Ty-Met stainless steel retained-tension ball-lock cable ties, new from Thomas & Betts (T&B), a member of the ABB Group, feature specially formed spring crimps that help maintain consistent tension on the tie after installation. Consistent tension enables the cable tie to remain in position, even under high-vibration conditions. “Ty-Met retained-tension cable ties won’t slide down the bundle of cables after installation,” said Ralph Donati, product marketing director, Installation Products, at ABB Electrification Products.
Spindrift Preparing Trimaran Yacht for Atlantic Record Attempt
A team of twenty has been working in the Spindrift boatyard in Lorient to adapt the maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2 for a 2014 programme with the dual requirement of the crewed North Atlantic record attempt and the solo Route du Rhum, says Spindrift Racing. "With Spindrift racing, we are tackling the records held by this boat, which is the largest in its class. To beat them, we must optimise the machine," Antoine Carraz, the technical manager and a sailor with Spindrift racing explains. "This year, we are doing crewed and solo. We made choices to be able to perform in both pursuits.
Enclosed Dry Dock Opened on U.S. West Coast
Bay Ship & Yacht Co., an American service, refit and new construction yards for superyachts and commercial vessels, recently expanded its capacity and capabilities by unveiling a new covered dry dock that accommodates vessels displacing up to 6,300-long tons with a maximum beam of 76 feet. Currently the only dry dock on the West Coast to be fully enclosed by a retractable roof, this new high-tech facility on San Francisco Bay is a conversion of the submersible Hughes Mining Barge (HMB-1), which played a role in a covert Cold War operation. According to CIA documents declassified in 2012, the HMB-1 was built in the 1970s by the U.S.
