Odfjell nr 3 - 2006.indd

Plata sent to sea
Launching/naming ceremony of
Bow Plata at Kitanihon, Japan
By Gareth Williams
Pictures: Vanessa J. H. Williams
On July 13th 2006, Odfjell representatives
were assembled in Japan to
attend the launching and naming of the
most recent addition of long-term timecharter
ships from Japan. Mdm Mu
Dao Zhen was the guest of honour as
the lady sponsor for the vessel, accompanied
of course by Mr. Zhu Guohe,
her husband and General Manager of
Odfjell Shanghai. Ken Kurihara together
with his wife Yoko represented Odfjell
Tokyo. From our Singapore office, Lim
Tai Lai, one of our Senior Ship Operators
attended on behalf of the regional
fleet operations department together
with Mr. Atle Knutsen and his wife
Hanne. I was delighted to be included
among the Odfjell delegates together
with my wife Vanessa. This was a
special trip for us in a number of
ways, as we had never been to Japan
before, nor had either of us attended
an Odfjell launching ceremony and seen
a ship actually glide down the slipway
as part of the ceremony.
The Lady Sponsor, Mdm Mu Dao
Zhen, entering the yard
The morning of the big day we all
took Japan’s famous “Bullet Train” the
approximately 600 km north from Tokyo
up to Hachinohe, a three-hour journey
that gave us the opportunity to be introduced
to representatives from Keymax
Maritime Ltd, the owners of the vessel.
At our destination we were greeted by
representatives from the Kitanihon shipyard,
and ushered to a waiting coach
that would take us to our hotel and then
further on to the shipyard.
What was immediately evident was the
friendly atmosphere within our group.
Conversation was flowing freely with
good humour all around, and slowly
names all began to fit in place. That all
of us had labelled buttonhole rosettes
helped to fill in the last gaps.
Kitanihon shipyard is only a short journey
from the hotel and on approaching
it was immediately obvious, with NB SNO
365 already adorned with flags, bunting
and ribbons rising high above the fencing
and buildings of the yard. The initial
impression is of a relatively compact but
highly efficient shipbuilding operation.
We were later informed that in 2006
Kitanihon will construct a total of six
chemical tankers.
After having entered the yard passing
under a specially constructed archway to
welcome Odfjell and Mdm Mu Dao Zhen,
we all assembled for the commemorative
group photograph. Prior to assembling
on the platform at the bow of the
ship, the lady sponsor was ushered to
one side for a couple of practice swings
with her ceremonial axe. Fingers all
intact, nerves dispatched and the dummy
run claimed a success, it was time for the
real thing. With a warning bell to sound
that the safety retaining pins on the
slipway were removed, Mdm Mu Dao
Zhen stepped up to the microphone and
proclaimed “ I name you Bow Plata,” Zhu
gave the blessing whereupon Mdm Mu
cut the ribbon, and the ship was named
with champagne as she glided down the
slipway into the water.
A ship’s launch is an occasion with a
strong sense of ceremony and tradition,
and a celebration of human achievement.
Of course it is also a marking of
long-term commitments and in this particular
instance of reinforced relationships
between Keymax Maritime Ltd and
Odfjell, a fact that Mr Saburo Iwai, Chief
Operating Officer of Keymax Maritime
Co Ltd also expressed in his dinner speech
afterwards.
Ken Kurihara officially concluded the
formal reception with toasts all around.
However, with new friendships forged
and celebrations still in full swing,
representatives from Keymax Maritime,
Bow Plata fast facts:
• 19,800 dwt
• Double Hull
• 22 stainless steel tanks, approx.
22,000 cbm
• Class: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK)
• Panama Flag
• LoA 141 metres
• Beam 24.20 metres
• Summer draft 9.794 metres
12 ODFJELL Quarterly September 2006