by GuestfromEU » February 12, 2018, 9:00 pm
As pointed out, building slots are not the same as selling rights to a hull under construction (or beyond a letter of intent stage). If ASC declined the option for a vessel, and forfeited the rights to said option, the shipyard has the right to market that spot to another client.
Likewise, I do not believe Bay Shipbuilding owned rights to any vessel they built. My memory is likely wrong here, but was not Marine Consultants & Designers (or similar name) responsible for the design of the ships built at Bay Shipbuilding at that time? While shipyards certainly do produce their own ship architecture, especially nowadays, an independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm will review the plans (or more than not, they will design the ship from the beginning). In this case, US Steel could have easily purchased the rights to build the Speer at a yard of their choosing. As long as the naval architect was compensated, they do not care what yard builds their design.
Like buying a new, pre-construction house in a modern development, you (the buyer) may be shown some standard plans, along with basic options to change at a minor cost. More substantial changes, like a larger garage, fourth bedroom, etc. are much higher change orders. A shipyard works similarly, where a basic design is presented for sale. The shipowner will be able to make smaller cost changes, such as main engine manufacturer, auxiliary machinery brands, interior joinery/color scheme, etc. Changing to the magnitude of an extra deck (MV Burns Harbor), cargo hold arrangement (MV Edwin H Gott), or others are more significant in cost and materials procurement. Class and the USCG must also approve these revisions, which require further review than a simple change of using ABB switchgear compared to Siemens.
Side note, I spent several years in Korea, at Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries doing commissioning and acceptance proving for a firm specializing in this work. My concentration was on VLCC's, though we did some Post Panamax containership work as well. Much of the machinery and sub-assemblies/equipment is common to all of the yards, and it was not unheard of to see Samsung drawings in my office at Ulsan (Hyundai yard). While Bay Shipbuilding and American Shipbuilding were different in the sense they used different engines, auxiliary machinery (pumps, coolers, etc.), in present-day Korea, all of these components are sourced from the same manufacturers. Hyundai electric motors on a Samsung-built ship, Keystone valves, Dae Jin anchors, Kang Rim boilers, Kongsberg automation...it's all common to most ships, no matter which Korean yard builds the ship itself. This is seen in the USA on ships built at Aker Philadelphia and NASSCO San Diego...they build ships designed by Hyundai and Daewoo, respectively. Much of the internal components and machinery of the ships are the same Korean manufacture, all down to the same light switches, floor tile, main engines, generators, etc.
Sorry to hijack the thread. Thought some would be interested.
As pointed out, building slots are not the same as selling rights to a hull under construction (or beyond a letter of intent stage). If ASC declined the option for a vessel, and forfeited the rights to said option, the shipyard has the right to market that spot to another client.
Likewise, I do not believe Bay Shipbuilding owned rights to any vessel they built. My memory is likely wrong here, but was not Marine Consultants & Designers (or similar name) responsible for the design of the ships built at Bay Shipbuilding at that time? While shipyards certainly do produce their own ship architecture, especially nowadays, an independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm will review the plans (or more than not, they will design the ship from the beginning). In this case, US Steel could have easily purchased the rights to build the Speer at a yard of their choosing. As long as the naval architect was compensated, they do not care what yard builds their design.
Like buying a new, pre-construction house in a modern development, you (the buyer) may be shown some standard plans, along with basic options to change at a minor cost. More substantial changes, like a larger garage, fourth bedroom, etc. are much higher change orders. A shipyard works similarly, where a basic design is presented for sale. The shipowner will be able to make smaller cost changes, such as main engine manufacturer, auxiliary machinery brands, interior joinery/color scheme, etc. Changing to the magnitude of an extra deck (MV Burns Harbor), cargo hold arrangement (MV Edwin H Gott), or others are more significant in cost and materials procurement. Class and the USCG must also approve these revisions, which require further review than a simple change of using ABB switchgear compared to Siemens.
Side note, I spent several years in Korea, at Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries doing commissioning and acceptance proving for a firm specializing in this work. My concentration was on VLCC's, though we did some Post Panamax containership work as well. Much of the machinery and sub-assemblies/equipment is common to all of the yards, and it was not unheard of to see Samsung drawings in my office at Ulsan (Hyundai yard). While Bay Shipbuilding and American Shipbuilding were different in the sense they used different engines, auxiliary machinery (pumps, coolers, etc.), in present-day Korea, all of these components are sourced from the same manufacturers. Hyundai electric motors on a Samsung-built ship, Keystone valves, Dae Jin anchors, Kang Rim boilers, Kongsberg automation...it's all common to most ships, no matter which Korean yard builds the ship itself. This is seen in the USA on ships built at Aker Philadelphia and NASSCO San Diego...they build ships designed by Hyundai and Daewoo, respectively. Much of the internal components and machinery of the ships are the same Korean manufacture, all down to the same light switches, floor tile, main engines, generators, etc.
Sorry to hijack the thread. Thought some would be interested.