Nord news

On 16th October 2006, the
Keel of our next new building S-062
was laid at Universal Shipbuilding
Corporation Tsu Shipyard No.1
(west) Building Dock.
The ceremony was attended by Managers
and Representatives of Mitsui, Orient Marine
Co., Ltd., Lloyds Register Asia, Shipbuilder and
Reederei “NORD” Klaus E. Oldendorff Ltd. It
was conducted in a traditional Japanese "Shinto"
style and language and was a cultural event.
The service performed by the Japanese
priest included the calling and "descending of the
gods", "offerings" to the gods such as fruits
vegetables and other goods, "reciting prayers",
"purification", "offering branches" of the sacred
tree by the various participants and honored
guests. The ritual was carried out in such a precise
manner following a formal procedure indicative
of the Japanese culture and meticulousness. The
instruction alone of the offering sprigs of sacred
trees to the gods is impressive.
After that the welding ceremony was
carried out. Here technology came in taking its
toll. The traditional bell is now replaced by a push
button for an electric bell. Simultaneously the
weld on the first erection block (a section of the
Engine Room) has commenced.
The ritual was closed by the withdrawal of
the offerings and the ascending of the gods.
6
NORD NEWS Winter 2006
Keel Laying Ceremony
The Building Schedule for the Vessel
Steel Cutting 23 May 2006
Start of sub assembly 30 May 2006
Keel Laying 16 Oct. 2006
M/E SHOP TRIAL 18 Oct. 2006
M/E Installation 2 Nov. 2006
Sighting of Line shafting 10 Nov. 2006
Propeller Installation 24 Nov. 2006
Rudder Installation 29 Nov. 2006
Launching 15 Dec. 2006
Mooring Trial 9 Feb. 2007
Final Docking 14-22 Feb. 2007
Sea Trial 22-24 Feb. 2007
Delivery 31 Mar. 2007
TSU Shipyard - History
The TSU Shipyard is situated in Tsu City,
Mie Prefecture, on reclaimed land and covers an area
of approximately 737,800 m2. The TSU Shipyard
belongs to the group of Universal Shipbuilding
Corporation. It was founded in 1969 to meet the
high demand at that time of VLCC and other
super-ships. Addressing the negative impact that
the recession had on Japan's shipbuilding industry
after the oil crisis of the 1970’s and 1980’s, Tsu
Shipyard shifted operations to LPG gas carriers and
multi purpose cargo ships centering operations on
bulk carriers and offshore structures. With the
recovery of demand for tankers in the first half of
the 1990’s, the construction of VLCC’s resumed.