The STAR LINDESNESS is the third vessel in Grieg Star's L Class, the newest generation in the company's highly specialized 'open hatch' general cargo fleet. The L Class newbuilding program includes 10 vessels for delivery during 2012-2014, and also includes two new conventional Supramax bulk ships. 'It is a pleasure to have this naming ceremony in Mobile, a port that has been very important for Star since the 1970s,' noted Tom Rasmussen, president and chief operating officer for Grieg Star. 'Mobile is a strategic load port in all our export services to North Europe, Mediterranean, Far East and West Coast South America and also on the import service from Brazil. We have had an excellent cooperation from the Alabama State docks in all these years,' said Rasmussen. Grieg Star's new building investment is at about $560 million and this new capacity will be a combination of expanding our activities in certain segments and replacing older tonnage. Rasmussen added, 'the cargo mix we expect going forward is quite different from what we have seen historically. We are confident that the combination of gantry crane vessels and the latest newbuildings will cover our future needs.'
The L Class vessels represent the 12th generation of Open Hatch concept vessels, which are equipped with four 75 tons SWL electric slewing cranes with power swivel for steady cargo handling. The vessels' unobstructed cargo holds are designed for optimal cargo stowing and handling. The Open Hatch is a proven design tailor made for transportation of wood pulp and other forestry products, steel, containers and other utilized cargoes.
Over 100 shippers, service providers and port officials joined Grieg Star management and guests at the official naming ceremony aboard the STAR LINDESNESS at the Alabama State Port Authority's Pier B North Terminal. Grieg Star then hosted a luncheon at the historic Battle House Hotel in downtown Mobile. Grethe Hoyvik, in her speech, expressed her appreciation of the honor bestowed upon her as Sponsor and Godmother of the ship. 'It is a great honor for me to be the Sponsor of the Star Lindesnes and I thank the Grieg family for trusting me with this important task. She is a beautiful vessel and I wish Captain Pasaylo and his crew a safe continuation of the Maiden Voyage,' said Hoyvik.
Jimmy Lyons, director and chief executive officer for the Alabama State Port Authority praised Grieg Star for its 33 plus years of carriage at the port, and for the 'line's deployment of advance technology that continues to offer the highest quality service in a changing market. We were extremely honored to have been chosen as the christening port for the STAR LINDESNES.'
