Big year at Nantong

Nantong Ocean Ship Engineering (NOSEC) repaired or converted 134 ship during 1999, with 97 per cent of the vessels coming from 21 overseas countries. Highlights included three roro ferry conversions for the UK?s Dart line, building segregated ballast tanks on VLCC Moscliff, and routine drydock repairs to a series of panamax bulk carriers for A P Moller.

More recent projects include structural modifications to the Norwegian semi-submersible barge Boa Barge 19. NOSEC fitted 4.75m sponsons to the port and starboard sides, using 2,000t of steel. River Yarra, a 32,452 dwt Australian cement carrier, was stemmed for 300t of steel renewal and partial renewal of the cargo handling equipment. A new control room was built and the compressed air system was upgraded. The yard also blasted 12,500m2 in the cargo holds to SA2.5.

Major projects from the Greek market include 600t of steel work and 15,000m2 of coating work on the tanker Lorous. Panamax bulk carrier Milos has undergone 1,000t of steel renewal, 10,000m2 of coating, plus main engine and deck machinery work.