The Bright Ocean

Japanese prominence in ship building has been displaced by Korea and China. But they still put on a pretty good show at launch. Here is a 3 minute clip of MS Bright Ocean breaking tether at Saiki shipyard. Video apparently was shot and posted same day in Jan, 2012. Now the traditional method of Japanese launch is severing a hemp holdfast with a silver ax. The ax is then presented to the owner. Champagne christening by a distinguished lady is replaced with mechanical swing arm with remote trip. Well, I guess it works for them.

interesting tidbits:

Bright Ocean is a 37,000 long tonne bulk carrier.

in her few months on active life, she has called on iron ore ports in Brazil

the brazilian mining company --Vale-- controlling the port of Tubarao recently commissioned construction
of 18 ore carriers of 400,000 metric tonnes each. the first is at work now. all will be used exclusively to feed asian mills

video


saiki heavy industries - YouTube

video---silver ax ceremony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=rJm1zbL0I3g

jh

I love it! Tilbury (Essex, on the Thames estuary) with Souza's Stars and Stripes Forever, in a Japanese shipyard. Very exotic

Mind you, Long Tonnes are fairly exotic (2240kg??).

Thanks for the links