A remarkable 22 months from site reclamation to laying of the first keel will be recorded by Nippon Kokan, Japan's only integrated shipbuilder-steelmaker, in construction of its super efficient $42-million Tsu Yard in central Japan.
In October 1966 the huge reclaimed area of 148 acres was part of the sea. Hiroo Ikematsu, NKK-New York's naval architect, said the keel for Tsu's first vessel, a 104,700-dwt ore/oil carrier ordered by Vale do Rio Doce Navegacao S.A. of Brasil, will be laid in July 1969.
Contracts have already been signed with NKK for four more vessels to be built at Tsu—two 250,000-dwt tankers for Canadian Pacific (Bermuda) and two 256,000-dwt tankers for Anders Jahre A/S of Norway.
The yard will feature two huge docks. Now under construction, they will have a capacity of 500,000 dwt each—one for building, the other for repair.
Tsu also features a T-type layout for minimizing materials transportation and docks with both ends open to the sea for facilitating semi-tandem building.
Operations will be speeded by NKK-developed computer systems for various functions including ship designing, work processing and administrative activities. Building facilities will also be highly automated.
Tsu shipyard takes shape in Japan. Will be able to build ships up to 500,000-dwt.