China: Construction of Heavy Transport Vessel FORTE Progresses

At the moment, the construction and commissioning of the FORTE is progressing on schedule. All four main engines were successfully started up prior to the slowdown that is always a feature of the time just before Chinese New Year festivities. The load test on the auxiliary generator set has been completed, the steam boiler has produced steam, a considerable amount of pumps and ventilators are operating.

The engine room has been prepared for painting and the final stages of commissioning have began. The FORTE will start her sea-trials in the first half of April. Fairstar will take delivery of FORTE on May 23, 2012 on time and on budget.

In a distance of about a kilometer from the commissioning quay where FORTE is berthed, FINESSE is taking shape in the dry dock. Out of the total of 270 single blocks, 190 blocks have been installed in the dry dock. Lessons learned from the construction of the FORTE have proven to be of great value to the company. The FINESSE is actually ahead of schedule. Much more outfitting (piping, cable trays, smaller equipment, ventilation ducts, etc) has been installed in bigger combined blocks than were used on FORTE.

[mappress]
Source: Fairstar, March 2, 2012