Launching of High-Speed Container Ship "VERAZANO BRIDGE"

Abstract

Today, it is an explicit fact that the ship's scantling and speed are on the upward trend at a remarkably high pace. This phenomenon is of course observed in construction of container ships as well. The latest model of container ships is fairly able to pick up 1,800 pieces of containers and runs at 26 knots. Hereinbelow introduced is the abstract of the launching details of a high speed container carrier that was recently built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. The special features of this launching were that the most careful considerations were required for launching preparation because of the ship's very fine lines to produce high speed and the singularity in main engine installation: 80,000 PS Kawasaki M.A.N. diesel, two units of each 40,000 PS, and two propellers with one rudder. Fully taking account of these conditions, the following measures were adopted to successfully launch the ship that was scheduled on Feb. 20, 1973. a) The after poppet was made in the rush structure with vertical struts only, not in the bracket system. b) Three pieces of saddle strap were used in the fore poppet. c) To collect the sliding ways after launching, "the pulling-out launching system" was adopted instead of the complicated poppet system. d) The building berth was extended aft by 30 m and the keel block portion of the building berth were reinforced. e) The nearest sea bottom and the sea area between the tail end of the building berth and the outfitting wharf were dredged up.