Odfjell nr 3 - 2006.indd

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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
Some of the prominent guests attending the ceremony, from left Mrs. Hanne Knutsen, Mr. Atle Knutsen (Odfjell), Mr. Saburo Iwai (COO Keymax Maritime Co Ltd), Lady Sponsor Mdm Mu Dao Zhen, Mr. Zhu Guohe (Odfjell Shanghai), Mr. Moto Nakabayashi (Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.), Mr. Tohru Higash (President of Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.) Kitanihon NB SNO 365 ready for naming and launching Safely afloat Odfjell, Kitanihon, NKK, and ISC Corporation continued to a more intimate setting for light refreshments and some karaoke. There are some talented singers out there with daytime shipping jobs! The following day Keymax and Kitanihon arranged a sightseeing tour to let us experience some culture and local sights. We enjoyed a boat trip across Lake Towada, a volcanic lake 400 metres above sea level, followed by a stroll along one of the tributaries that flowed from the lake. After a traditional hot plate style lunch at the Oirase Tourism Centre, we enjoyed a musical recital before boarding our coach to head back to Hachinohe train station. I know I speak for all of us at Odfjell in expressing our gratitude to our hosts at Kitanihon and at Keymax for making this such an enjoyable trip. The yard workers look small compared to the large hull The Lady Sponsor and her husband Bow Plata finally reaching her right element The Lady Sponsor cutting the token ribbon ODFJELL Quarterly September 2006 13
Page 1 and 2: Company Magazine for the Odfjell Gr
Page 3 and 4: Dear Colleagues... The threat of gl
Page 5 and 6: Touching up the name sign Leaving t
Page 7 and 8: The first block being fitted Fittin
Page 9 and 10: «Be considerate and precise in you
Page 11: Bow Sky revisited Lady sponsor gets
Page 15 and 16: Fire fighting using fire extinguish
Page 17 and 18: The Dolphin is trading Naming and d
Page 19 and 20: New ships Odfjell expands its chemi
Page 21 and 22: eVA - a challenging ‘lady’ Elec
Page 23 and 24: By Toralf Sørenes HSE Issues and T
Page 25 and 26: Rotterdam Fire Brigade Officers vis
Page 27 and 28: Picking the red one Albie has 200 w
Page 29 and 30: Odfjell’s work exchange programme
Page 31 and 32: Indian visitors on board Bow Flower
Page 33 and 34: IN SERVICE FOR ODFJELL 40 YEARS 35
Page 35 and 36: STAINLESS NUMBER SHIPS BUILT DWT CB

Odfjell nr 3 - 2006.indd

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