July 18th, 2008 ·
Photo by nasebaer
Chief Journalist David Nagle of US Naval Sea Systems Command brings us Milestones in Ship Construction:
“So the ship’s been christened, so now it goes out to sea, right? Or, is that the commissioning? Have they put the ship into the water yet? And, when do they break the champagne bottle?”
Just as there are many milestones in the life of a Navy ship, there are a number of significant milestones and evolutions involved in bringing that ship to life. The following are some of the major milestones associated with a new construction ship.
Keel Laying: This is the formal recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. In earlier times it was the “laying down” of the central or main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Today, fabrication of the ship may begin months before and some of the ship’s bottom may actually be joined. However, the keel laying symbolically recognizes the joining of modular components and the ceremonial beginning of a ship.
Stepping the Mast: The placement of the mast into the hull in ancient times signified the moment when a “shell” truly became a ship. To commemorate that moment, the Romans placed coins under mast for good luck or to help deceased Sailors into the afterworld. Today, coins, often reflecting the ship’s hull numbers, are typically placed under or near the mast for good luck in a small ceremony.
Launching: This is the point when the ship enters the water for the first time. Traditionally, it coincides with the ship’s christening with the ship sliding down the ways into the water with a splash. Today, many launchings, such as the one for San Antonio (LPD 17) take place separately from the christening. For example, San Antonio was moved from the ways into a drydock, which when lowered enabled the ship to “float” for the first time. [Continue Reading →]
Tags: · newbuild, Shipyard
May 29th, 2008 ·
The US-owned cruise operator, Regent Seven Seas, is taken bids on a brand new ultra-luxury cruises ship. The vessel will have a projected capacity of 800 guest as well as an entire deck devoted to an on-board spa. At the moment Regent Seven Seas operate four small to mid-size luxury cruise ships.
travelweekly.co.uk brings us more on this new ship build.
President Mark Conroy said three shipyards are bidding for the business and a decision is expected by September with delivery slated for 2011 or 2012.
The vessel will be an all-balcony, all-suite vessel, like Regent’s flagships Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, but hold about 800 passengers, which is 100 more than those two ships.
Standard cabins will be slightly larger than on Mariner and Voyager - 400 square feet instead of 350 - and it will have more restaurants and probably an entire deck devoted to the spa.
Tags: · Cruise Ship, newbuild, Regent Seven Seas
May 1st, 2008 ·
The BBC Tells us:
One of the world’s largest cruise ships has been officially named by a member of the public who won a national competition for the honour.
Elizabeth Hill, from Baslow in Derbyshire, won the chance to name and christen the 160,000-tonne Independence of the Seas.
Built in Finland, the £400m vessel will sail to and from Southampton.
Five times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steven Redgrave attended the naming ceremony. Continue Reading…
The Independence is the third of the Freedom class which, until the launch of Royal Caribbean’s Project Genesis, are the largest cruise ships in the world.
Links:
Virtual Tour
Tags: · largest_cruise_ship, newbuild, royal_caribbean
January 6th, 2008 ·
Chief Mate Andre van Schoonhoven of the new cruise ship Eurodam gives us the history of classifying anchors. He writes;
Traditionally ships were anchored using large hemp hawsers called cables. In 1836 the use of iron chains had become so common in the English merchant service and their superiority so well recognized, that the underwriters ceased to charge a higher insurance rate for vessels using iron chain. In 1840 side welding of chain was introduced in England, and from that time English chains of 1-7/8 inches and larger have been side welded.
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping augmented its rules in 1846 so that thereafter all chains of classed vessels were tested and stamped on each end to indicate load capacity. In 1853 Lloyd’s rules made it mandatory that, before a vessel could be classed, the test of the chain cable had to be certified, and in 1858 Lloyd’s issued rules regarding the length and size of chain cable. Lloyd’s progressively stiffened their rules regarding methods of manufacture and testing, resulting in the Anchors and Chain Cables Act of 1899, which with only a few amendments is still the basis of present-day testing procedures.
He also provides a timeline of anchor chain developments. Here’s an excerpt;
1808: Wrought-iron cables are first recorded.
1834: Lloyd’s Register rules state the length of cable to be supplied, they call for a reduced length for iron cables compared to hemp cables at a 6:7 ratio.
1846: Rules specify that cable must have been tested and have the test load stamped on it.
1856: The rules state that the length and condition of chain cables were to be ascertained by removal from the locker at each special survey.
1890: Lloyd’s Register rules sets a table of minimum weights for cables.
Andre continues with details on how a Lloyd’s List determined the Eurodam anchor’s size as well as the number of shots of chain needed.
Read the full article HERE or more about ship anchors HERE.
Tags: · anchors, anchor_chain, chain locker, chief mate, chief_mate, Cruise Ship, hemp, iron_chain, iron_chains, lloyds list, maritime history, merchant_service, newbuild, new_cruise_ship, ship, ship_anchors, test_load, wrought_iron
