Vale Qingdao at Subic

Quick post before we depart early afternoon. Leak on the mechanical seal of a pump required a robbery mission to one of the other ships at the Fitting Out Quay. Last ship in the series will be a real bitzer.

In Subic Bay, Vale Qingdao (in STX colours), Ore Fabrica and Berge Townsend. Pouring down but the local traffic doesn't stop.

AM

The Cape Project

PN65, the first ship of the series, is three weeks away from sea trials, and the Antipodean Mariner will be back 'on the water' for a week in May while she is speed trialed, zig-zagged and crash stopped. Using a mash-up of photos taken over the past two months, PN65 and PN66 are now both afloat and fitting out. The scale of production, as the Graving Dock is filled with four ships under simultaneous construction, is spectacular.



From the bridge of PN65, the nine holds stretch out and the MacGregor hatch covers are fitted.



PN65, where the Yard has fitted a gangway to allow direct access the engine-room



Taken earlier in 2012, PN66 on the far side has her engine-room fitted out and in the foreground sister-ship PN68 rises from the dock floor

Less than two months later, PN66 floats out to join her sister at the fitting out quay.

AM

RTM Cook launched

PN65, now ready for launch as ‘RTM Cook’, has had her second taste of the sea and has moved to the fitting out dock. The launch was delayed by a few days due to last-minute work to one of the other vessels in the dry dock. PN66 moved to the front of the dock and the keels for PN67 and PN68 were laid.

'RTM Cook' with fenders rigged and ready for float out

'RTM Cook' with PN66 ready for float forward


Flooding the dock


Yard and Owner's Representatives witnessing the safe launch

‘RTM Cook’ is about four months away from sea trials and work will now focus on commissioning the systems installed during the dock construction. Launchings are no longer the grand affairs of ships sliding down greased slipways with flags streaming and whistles blaring. A little less than two years have elapsed from first visit to the Yard to launching of the first ship.

The Antipodean Mariner