Seoul: Russia's Primorsk Shipping Corporation (PRISCO) held a naming ceremony for the 51,000dwt Prisco Alexandra product tanker built at STX Shipbuilding Corp's yard in Jinhae. The vessel, which will undergo sea trials this week, is the first to be built to comprehensive new global standards for ice-class vessels developed by Lloyd's Register.
The vessel, the first of seven sisterships under construction at the yard for delivery to PRISCO by 2010, was built to a new winterisation notation that is said to dramatically extend the coverage of current standards beyond basic hull structures to include the products and equipment that are essential for safe and reliable operations in frigid temperatures.
"We are proud to witness the naming of Prisco Alexandra and the first application of our market-leading winterisation notation," says Luis Benito, Lloyd's Register Asia country manager for Korea. "There is a growing requirement for our clients to operate vessels in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, so it is essential to have clear and comprehensive minimum standards of performance to protect seafarers and the delicate marine environments in which they operate. These winterisation notations provide clear guidance for all parties."
According to Konstantin Globenko, director of PRISCO's technical department, having a more comprehensive set of common winterisation rules helps to streamline the process of establishing -- with groups such as chartering companies, international oil firms, insurance organisations and port authorities ?" whether a vessel is technically equipped to trade in -25? temperatures.
"We believe that being the first to build to this class notation is only the first step. Eventually, all oil companies, charterers, flag and port authorities and terminal operators working in Arctic waters will realise the importance of the proper winterisation of vessels," says Globenko. "This co-operation between class and owner ?" between theoretical and practical people ?" has promoted the development of a very practical tool that is useful to all parties and safer for those at sea."
The new notation, known as Winterisation 'D' (-25), covers everything from the paints used in ballast tanks and the sealing materials for valves to the location of water heaters, store rooms and steam lines. [10/11/08]
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