ST Marine wins Airbus roro newbuild contract

Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), the marine arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering), has secured two contracts from Seaplane Two S.A.S. and Seaplane Three S.A.S., totalling about $120m to construct two Ro-Ro vessels. This construction programme is expected to commence in 2H2006 with the first vessel expected to be delivered in 1H2008 and the second in 2H2008.

Seaplane Two and Seaplane Three are joint venture companies of two shipping groups, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) in France and Leif Hoegh (LH) in Norway. The vessels will be chartered to Airbus S.A.S. for the transportation of large aircraft components including sections for their new A380 aircraft. When not employed by Airbus, the vessels will be chartered for the transportation of cars, trailers, reefer containers on trailers and heavy RoRo equipment.

The 3,500 dwt RoRo vessels will measure approximately 127m long and 21m wide. The vessels are specially designed to transport aircraft sections efficiently and are equipped with highly automated ship control systems. To meet the special requirements for loading of aircraft sections, the vessels will incorporate unique features such as a stern mooring system, cargo hold environment control and lashing arrangements. The vessels are designed with a cargo deck space of about 9300m2 and lanes totaling approximately 3,100m.