July
2006
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of Contents:
Greek Section |
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July
2006
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Greek
Section May 18, 2006 On May 18, 2006 the seventh and last technical meeting of the Greek Section for the season 2005-2006 was held in the presence of about 40 members, non-members and students, during which Messrs C.D. Tseretopoulos and V.P. Lampropoulos of Thenamaris Ships Management Inc. presented their paper on the topic “Experience Gained on the “Art” of Large Marine Ferrous Castings.” The importance of marine castings quality is critical due to the impact of failure and the resulting negative economic, safety and publicity considerations. Lately, signs of quality deterioration have been witnessed as the authors pointed out with many examples. The authors presented their accumulated experience, gained over the years from following up on the production and quality of marine ferrous alloy castings in South Korean and Chinese foundries and shipyards. They discussed the background of current castings procedures and the effect of placing a large number of oversized castings orders on companies, which traditionally have not produced such castings of that size. In summary, it was pointed out that the production of marine castings is pushed by the shipyards for cheaper and faster delivery into remote, smaller and inexperienced foundries, with the casting process being vulnerable. Furthermore, the extend of supervision by the yard, class and buyer is usually very limited, with the rules and inspections not being thorough, considering also that the non-destructive examinations are difficult, lengthy and prone to oversights. There was also a general slackness in the application of class rules. The
presentation was concluded by showing many photographs of failures and
faults in stern frame and main engine foundation castings. SNAME
Participation in the Posidonia Cup SNAME participated this year for the second time in the biennial Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition (PISE), and it was considered to be a good idea for the local SNAME members to participate also in the sailing regatta jointly organized on June 2, 2006 by PISE, Lloyd’s Register and the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC). Through the generous financing of SNAME member and member of the Greek Section’s Executive Committee, Mr. Stavros Hatzigrigoris, who already had two of his boats committed for the race, “SEMELE II,” a well-preserved 1985 Beneteau First 38, was chartered. It was skippered by its experienced owner, Architect, Elias Vassiliadis, a founding member of HORC. The SNAME organizing team of Paris Dimitriadis and Nikos Dionissopoulos made the necessary preparations and hastily formed an eager sailing team composed of Members George Kriezis, George Anagnostou, Thomas Michalianos and Isaak Panteliadis. They managed to have a single afternoon of sailing trials,, after office hours, to get acquainted with the boat handling particulars. The two planned racecourses involved a three-mile upwind sailing with multiple tacks, in close encounters and a downwind leg requiring at least two jibes in ever increasing wind strength.
On the day of the race, after a nice breakfast and the safety / rules briefing at HORC, the sky was initially ominously overcast, but, thankfully, later on it cleared up. While the wind for the first leg was a nice force 2/3 Beaufort, for the second leg it freshened to a 5/6 giving the 52 participants some exciting spray and moments of a real, “balancing act.” . The fleet had some outstanding performing boats, with well-established crews that challenged each other at a different level from the remaining participants who chartered just for the occasion. Undaunted, the SNAME team worked feverishly, and finally managed a decent 4th place in its ORC cruise category, barely missing the third place distinction! We improved with every “tack”, but we had no time to perfect our coordination…. In the same evening all tired participants, were given their awards, at a fabulous reception organized by Lloyd’s Register at Vouliagmeni’s Astir Palace Hotel, with over 1000 guests who applauded the jubilant winners, while enjoying a delicious cuisine, ample drinks and an excellent service. By that time the sea breeze had picked up and was happily cooling down the skins of the happy sunburned sailors! The SNAME Greek Section’s sailing team, wish that this colorful event will in the future be attended by better trained and younger SNAME members, to ensure a higher placement and better publicity! Everyone is naturally grateful for our sponsor. Thank you all. |
