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SHIP REPAIR & CONVERSION towards block bookings was London's Andrew Weir, which will complete a four-ship deal with France's Arno Dunkerque during February. All four ships were due for mid-term drydocking. Italian shipbuilding and repair specialist, T. Mariotti, has been awarded a contract to modify the Japanese-built, 17,113-grt Italian- registered passenger RoRo ferry Victory, owned by Italian ferry operator Grimaldi. The contract price has not yet been announced, but it is understood that the total value will be around $50 million. Cammell Laird (Gibraltar) Ltd. has announced that inquiries are still at an all-time-high, with the latest coming from Maersk USA. Over the Christmas period, 13 ships were undergoing repairs, including Shell's 298,308-dwt VLCC Myrina and P&O Nedlloyd's 47,442-dwt containership Cardigan Bay. Sweden's Oresundsvarvet has been awarded the contract to repair Stena Line's 38,756-grt Swedish passenger RoRo ferry Stena Scandinavia, which was expected to arrive at the yard dur- ing late January 1999. Norshipco Nabs Argent Marine Contract Argent Marine Services of Yorktown, VA recently signed on with Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. (Norshipco) to reac- tivate the LNG carrier Southern. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in the yard this month, and undergo gas trials in October to begin oper- ating under a time charter to Shell Bermuda (Overseas) Ltd. FPSOs: The Next Big $ Deal? The face of ship repair and con- version in the U.S. is drastically different than just five years ago, and the transformation is far more than cosmetic. Consolidation of companies — a trend which is hardly confined to the maritime market — has left fewer, larger players. Stiff compe- tition from shipyards around the world has created tremendous price pressures, which has left the field even thinner, yet arguably stronger. Combine the above with a consis- tent investment in labor saving technologies, and the result is a viable, competitive and flexible ship repair and conversion base, which is multi- dimensional in its ability to juggle complex naval work with time-sensi- tive commercial jobs. Executives from many of the country's leading shipyards and supply organizations gathered in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss challenges facing the industry. While sentiments regarding near-term prospects in the ship repair and U.S. ship repair and conversion yards are hopeful that the Minerals Management Service will soon allow FPSO's in the Gulf of Mexico. HAVENS FOR SICK SHIPS Vancouver Shipyards and Victoria Shipyards will pick up and deliver crippled ships to the closest drydock. Experienced repair teams take over and the ship is on its way again without delay. Whether it is serious trouble or a matter of maintenance or minor repair, our shipyards are ready on the ways, alongside or at sea. Call us anytime, day or night. kY VANCOUVER SHIPYARDS 50 Pemberton Avenue North Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7P 2R2 Telephone: (604) 988-6361 Fax: (604) 990-3290 www.vanship.com kV VICTORIA SHIPYARDS 825 Admirals Road Victoria, B.C. Canada V9A2P1 Telephone: (250) 380-1602 Fax: (250) 995-6599 www.vicship.com A Washington Company i 70 Circle 297 on Reader Service Card Circle 309 on Reader Service Card VICTORIA VANCOUVER CHART THE SEAS OF TECHNOLOGY. avigate the seas of technology and discover new territories at v^j_DTC '99—the best way*to explore offshore! • Trade knowledge with 50,000+ professionals from 80 countries representing national and multinational companies. 1 .C A : .1 • See and hear 300+ technical presentat)6ns pn / the industry's latest advances in offshore technology. • Jgiri 1,800+ exhibitors from'J^Tcountries on a well-planned exhibition or products and services covering 37^,000+ net sq ft. 3-6 May 1999 Houston, Texas, U.S A Telephone: 1-972-952-9494 Online: www.otcnet.org £ 1999 Offshore Technology Conference 0 5 0 u OTC99-U8A1 • Yes! I'm interested in Charting the Seas of Technology at OTC'99. Please rush registration information today. Name Job Title_ Company_ Address City _State/Country_ Telephone_ E-mail Facsimile _Zip/Postal Code_ Fax completed form to: 1-972-952-9435, or E-mail to: registration@otcnet.org Or mail to: Offshore Technology Conference, P.O. Box 833868, Richardson, TX 75083-3868